April 20--For more than a year, the city and a neighborhood association has worked together on a project to install pre-positioned firefighting equipment in outdoor storage cabinets.
That work is near to paying off.
"It should save us several minutes and allow us to get water on a fire more quickly," Grand Haven Public Safety Director Jeff Hawke said. "The purpose is to improve fire protection services in the Highland Park area."
Because of the neighborhood's narrow streets, steep terrain and other factors, firefighters have to drag equipment up hill to reach a fire there. Once the new cabinets are installed, firefighters will be able to drag pre-placed firefighting equipment downhill to connect to trucks and hydrants.
Hawke said the boxes will be installed later this spring or early in the summer.
City Councilman Mike Fritz said he's glad to see work done to improve fire protection service in the area.
"It is an area that needs fire protection," he said. "It's very difficult for firefighters to get up there."
Councilman Dennis Scott is also enthusiastic about the project.
"I think it is a good partnership," he said. "It protects our residents up there and I think it's a great thing to do."
The expected cost is $70,000 for 12 storage units, firefighting equipment and installation. The project cost has been split evenly between the association and city. The city's portion of the project funding is coming from its Capital Improvement Fund.
The lifespan of the equipment in the box is 25 years, and the cabinets would be theft-proof and able to withstand the elements.
City Council recently approved the purchase of the outdoor storage cabinets and all associated equipment.
The sole bid for construction of the outdoor cabinets came from Dalton Fleet Services, owned by Grand Haven Department of Public Works mechanic Joe Balder.
Hawke said a prototype would be built before the city moves ahead with the final purchase, manufacturing and installation of the cabinets.
"I don't think it will be difficult to install, but it will be time-consuming," he said.
Nine fire equipment supply companies bid on the firefighting equipment. All recommended purchases are the lowest bids, except for a 3-inch supply line hose.
"We bid all of the equipment separately so we could review the lists and choose the lowest," Hawke said.
Copyright 2014 - Grand Haven Tribune, Mich.