The city of Carey is struggling with gallons per minute. Facing demand from developers for subdivision approval, the Carey City Council is faced with finding ways to supply urban fire fighting infrastructure in a community that is essentially still rural.
Tuesday the council tabled an application submitted by Ridge View developers to be called Gold Finch. It was tabled in part because the matter of fire flow requirements has not been ironed out between the city and the Carey Rural Fire District, which is responsible for fighting fire in the community.
"With the number of houses out there now, at what point do you concern yourself with fire flows?" Mayor Rick Baird asked the Carey City Council at a regular meeting Tuesday, Dec. 21. "We don't have a requirement. It's like we're hunting in the dark."
Carey City Attorney Jim Phillips said it is the business of the council to set standards.
The Gold Finch developer, Craig Peterson, who wears two hats since he is also on the board of the fire district, is seeking to develop eight lots in the subdivision along Scott Road on the south end of the city.
The council has called a special joint meeting Jan. 6 with the Carey Rural Fire District and the planning and zoning commission to discuss the issue of fire flow standards and whether to adopt the International Fire Code. The code, which recommends fire hydrant flows of 1,000 gallons per minute in modern subdivisions, is a figure that insurance companies take into account along with roof materials and density when estimating fire risk in a community.
Baird said the fire district is looking to the council to set a standard to follow.
Earlier in the debate Baird said the fire district came to the council with recommendations that the community use the IFC. The council, however, voiced some frustration Tuesday because they said the fire district had backed off of earlier recommendations.
In some parts of Carey fire flows are about 250 gallons per minute. The Carey city pump provides about 340 gallons per minute, said Councilman Craig Adamson. A second well drilled by Lakes at Waterford developer Dick Duncan could perhaps supplement city infrastructure.
"As a city we've got to nail down some criteria," said Councilman Dan Parke.
At the joint meeting the council hopes to address what the water system is capable of providing.
"I think the fire flow issue has to be resolved once and for all," Adamson said.
