HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 3505CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON
RESOLUTION NO. 3505
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, OPPOSING
THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION'S (NFPA's) PROPOSED
STANDARDS 1710 AND 1720.
WHEREAS, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is an international
association of individuals and trade and professional organizations; and
WHEREAS, the mission of NFPA is "to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other
hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating scientifically-based consensus codes and
standards, research and education;" and
WHEREAS, NFPA has produced over 275 codes and standards that deal with every
aspect of fire and life safety; and
WHEREAS, NFPA is an internationally recognized authority in producing codes and
standards dealing with fire and life safety; and
WHEREAS, NFPA is currently proposing two new standards: NFPA 1710, Organization
and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special
Operations to the Public by Career Fire Departments, and NFPA 1720, Organization and
Deployment of Fire Suppression, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the
Public by Volunteer Fire Departments; and
WHEREAS, proposed NFPA standards 1710 and 1720 define minimum response times,
minimum fire company staffing levels, initial full alarm response levels, and extra alarm response
levels; and
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RESOLUTION NO. 3505
WHEREAS, levels of service delivery for fire and emergency medical services (EMS)
have always been determined by local jurisdictions; and
WHEREAS, proposed NFPA standards 1710 and 1720 would impose onerous, unfunded
mandates upon local governments to meet established response times and staffing levels, if
adopted by NFPA with subsequent consideration taken by federal agencies, such as the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and insurance companies; and
WHEREAS, the NFPA has clearly gone outside its authority in proposing these national
minimum manning, response, and staffing standards; and
WHEREAS, because NFPA codes and standards are voluntary and need to be adopted by
local jurisdictions, these standards will be "the norm" because of the stature of NFPA in the
development and promulgation of other codes and standards; and
WHEREAS, these two proposed standards will be considered and voted on at the NFPA
annual conference on May 16, 2001 in Anaheim, California; and
WHEREAS, if adopted and issued, these proposed NFPA standards would force local
governments to shift dollars from fire prevention programs to fire suppression activities,
potentially increasing the risk of fire and the danger to local firefighters.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RENTON,
WASHINGTON, DO RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I. The above findings are true and correct in all respects.
SECTION II. The City of Renton opposes any attempt by the National Fire
Protection Association to adopt standards for staffing or minimum manning levels of fire,
specialized, or emergency medical services vehicles controlled by units of local government.
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RESOLUTION NO. 3505
SECTION HI. The City opposes any attempt by the National Fire Protection
Association to adopt a standard dictating or affecting the response time of any fire, specialized, or
emergency medical services vehicle; and
SECTION IV. The City will send this resolution to the National Fire Protection
Association, registering the City's opposition to proposed standards 1710 and 1720, which
preempt local authority and place a one-size-fits-all mandate on our City and on all cities and
towns.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 14th day of May , 2001.
APPROVED BY THE MAYOR this 14th day of May > 2001.
Lawrence J. Warren, City Attorney
RES.850:5/10/01:ma
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