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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGunsolus 12.10.20From:         jmedzegian@rentonwa.gov To:           Council <Council@Rentonwa.gov> Date:         2020-12-10 15:58 Subject:      Fwd: Red Lion Fire & Life Safety Attachments: Red Lion King County De-Intensification Shelter.pdf Fyi Get Outlook for iOS From: Roy Gunsolus <rgunsolus@rentonrfa.org> Sent: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 10:40 AM To: Ruth Pérez; Kerry Abercrombie; Morrell Marcus; Myron Meikle; Randy Corman; Ryan McIrvin Subject: FW: Red Lion Fire & Life Safety CAUTION:ThisemailoriginatedfromoutsidetheCityofRenton.Donotclicklinks,replyoropenattachmentsunlessyouknowthecontentissafe. Governing Board,   The attached letter was sent out this morning to the individuals listed in the below email.   Enjoy the day Roy     From: Roy Gunsolus Sent: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 10:02 AM To: Leonardo.Flor@KingCounty.gov; Anthony.Wright@KingCounty.gov Cc: Dow.Constantine@KingCounty.gov; Dave.Upthegrove@KingCounty.gov; Reagan.Dunn@KingCounty.gov; Bob.Hasegawa@leg.wa.gov; Steve.berquist@leg.wa.gov; David.Hackney@leg.wa.gov; DMalone@desc.org; nmarci@desc.org; Cheryl.Strange@dshs.wa.gov; John.Batiste@wsp.wa.gov; APavone@rentonwa.gov; EVanvaley@rentonwa.gov; CVincent@rentonwa.gov; SMoloney@rentonwa.gov; Chris.Ricketts@KingCounty.gov Subject: Red Lion Fire & Life Safety   Please see attached in regards to Fire and Life Safety issues at the Red Lion (1 S Grady Way).   Thank you   Roy Gunsolus,  Chief Renton Regional Fire Authority | Admin Response Operations                      18002 108th Ave SE Renton, WA  98055 425-970-5084 Cell | 425-276-9502 Office                                             rgunsolus@rentonrfa.org   Professionalism . Integrity . Leadership . Accountability . Respect   LR - 000783   LR - 000784 RENTONREGIONALFIREAUTHORITYWORKINGTOMAKEOURCOMMUNITY’SAFER,HEALTHIER,ANDSTRONGERLeoFlor,DirectorofKingCountyDepartmentofCommunityandHumanServicesAnthonyWright,DirectorofKingCountyFacilitiesManagementFROM:RoyGunsolus,FireChiefAnjelaBarton,FireMarshalDATE:December9,2020SUBJECT:RedLion/KingCountyDe-IntensificationShelterBasedontheontheongoingoperationsandconcernsforthesafetyoftheresidentsstaying attheRedLion/KingCountyDe-IntensificationShelterlocated at1SGradyWay,Renton, weareadvisingyouthatmovingforwardwewillbeholdingfloors1-5ofthisfacilitytothefirecoderequirementsestablishedfor“I-i,condition2”occupancytype(AssistedLiving)andfloor6ofthisfacilitytothefirecoderequirementsestablishedfor“1-2”occupancytype(Detoxification/NursingHome/Psychiatrichospital).Whilewe haveattemptedtofindwaystoapplytheoriginalcodedesignationof“R-l”occupancytype(Hotels),wefindthatoperationsthataretaking placewithinthisbuildingarealignedwiththoseofan“I-i,condition2”basednotonlyonthefireandbuildingscodes,asadoptedbyRCW19.27,butalso specificallybystatelawfortheregulationandoutlinedrequirementsforassistedlivingfacilitiesinRCW18.20.Specifically,statelawdefinesanassistedlivingfacilityas:...anyhomeorotherinstitution, howevernamed,whichisadvertised,announced,ormaintainedfortheexpressorimpliedpurposeofproviding housing,basicservices,andassuminggeneralresponsibilityforthesafetyandwell-beingoftheresidents,andmay alsoprovidedomiciliarycare....Statelawgoesonto define“BasicServices”ashousekeepingservices,meals,nutritioussnacks,laundryandactivities, and“DomiciliaryCare” asassistancewithactivitiesofdailyliving...eitherdirectlyor indirectly; orhealthsupportservices,ifprovideddirectlyorindirectly...orintermittentnursing services,ifprovideddirectlyorindirectly...wefindthisconsistentwithwhatyouareproviding withintheRedLion.Statelawdefines“1-2”occupanciesasbuildings andstructuresusedformedicalcareona24-hourbasisformorethanfivepersonswhoareincapableofself-preservationincludingdetoxificationfacilities...nursinghomes...psychiatrichospitals.Wefindthisconsistentwithwhatyouareprovidingonthe6thflooroftheRedLion.Whilewerecognizeyourlikelyintentwastooperatethislocationasashelterwithinahotel,thecomplexityoftheresidents,theirdisabilities andthecareyouareprovidingonsitehascausedustore-evaluate whatfirecodesprovidestheleveloffireandlifesafety requiredforyouroperation.We,astheFireAuthority,need toensureconsistencywithotherlikeoccupancytypesthatexist withinourjurisdiction.Everyperson,regardlessoftheirhomingstatus,isentitledtoanadequateandconsistentlevelofsafety—regardlessofwhoisoperatingthehomethattheylivein.Typicallywhenanewoperationisplanningtomove intoourcommunityweare affordedtheopportunitytohaveapre-applicationmeetingtodiscusswhattheir operationis,whatcoderequirementswillapply,andwhatimprovementsareneededataspecificlocationtoensurecompliancewithfireandlifesafetyrequirements;unfortunatelywewereneverprovidedthatopportunity tohavethatdiscussionwithyoupriortoyourmove intoRenton.Asstated,wehaverepeatedlyattemptedtofindwaystomakewhatreallyisanassistedlivingandinstitutionalusefitintowhatisanR-1(hotel)occupancytype; resultinginalarmingandpotentiallydireconsequences.425-276-9500(phone)www.rentonrfa.org18002108thAveSE425-276-9592(fax)‘@rentonrfaRenton,WA98055TO:PageI1LR - 000785 RENTONREGIONALFIREAUTHORITYtPWORKiNGTOMAKEOUROMMUNfSAFER,LALIllCR,ANDSIRONGERAsyouare aware,aresidentofyourfacilitystartedwhathasbeendeterminedtobeanarsonfireinhisroomonthe6thflooroftheRedLion.Whilethataloneisalarmingandcauses concern, basedonourrepeatedconversationsaroundfiresettingbehaviourinthefacility,whatwasequallyconcerningwasthefactthat5non-ambulatoryresidentswerestranded,intheirwheelchairs,onthe5thfloorduringanactivefire.Noemployeeorvolunteerinthefacilitycametoaidintheirevacuation.Theywereleft,sittinginthehallwayonanupperfloorofabuildingthatwason fire.Thisfailurehasemphasizedour need tore-addressexactlywhatwillberequiredmovingforwardandwhatcodeswewillenforceinthefacility.Werefusetobecomenegligentinactivitiesweknowtobeunsafeandrefusetotakeliabilityfor anyfailuretoprovideadequatefireandlifesafetyforpeopleresidinginRenton.Whilecreatingasafeenvironmentforthoseathighriskduringapandemicis amutualgoal,itcannotbeattheexpenseoffireandlifesafety.Movingforward,wewillbecompletingacomprehensiveinspectionofthefullfacilitythisweektodeterminewhatcoderequirementsapplyto theuseasan“AssistedLiving”and“1-2”.Wewillhavethatinformation toyoubynextweekandarecommittedtoworkingwithyouto establishreasonabletimelinesforcompliance.Wewillalsobeprovidingacopyof thisletterto boththeCityofRenton,toadvisethemofour changeinfirecode applicationforthisoccupancyandtorequestanemergentchangetotheoccupancytypebasedonthehazardsandassociatedlifesafetyrisks,andtotheDepartmentofSocialandHealthServicessotheycan begintheprocessofaidingyouinmeetingtheir requirements,asoutlinedinstatelaw,for“AssistedLivingFacilities”and“1-2facilities”. Wearehopefulthatasthismovesforwardthestatewilltakeanactiveroleinwhatare traditionallyoccupancytypesthatthey regulatetoensuretheresidentsareprovidedtheexpectedlevelofsafetyandcare.Ifyouhave anyquestionsor wouldliketodiscussfurther,pleasedonothesitatetoreachouttomedirectly,atRGunsolusRentonRFA.orgorviaphoneat425.276.9502ortoFireMarshalAnjelaBartonatABartonRentonRFA.org,orviaphoneat425.276.9504.RG:ab)(____cc:DowConstantine,KingCountyExecutiveDaveUpthegrove,KingCountyCouncilmemberReaganDunn,KingCountyCouncilmemberChrisRicketts,KingCountyFireMarshalBobHasagawa,StateSenatorSteve Berquist,StateRepresentativeDavidHackney,StateRepresentativeElectDanielMalone,DESCExecutiveDirectorNicoleMarci,DESCDeputyDirectorforStrategyCherylStrange,DSHSSecretaryJohnBatiste,WashingtonStatePatrolChiefArmondoPavone,Renton MayorEdVanValey,RentonInterimCityManagerChipVincent,RentonDirector ofCommunityandEconomicDevelopmentShaneMalone, RentonCityAttorneyRENTONREGIONALFIREAUTHORITYPageI2LR - 000786