Welcome to our online chat with Lawrence Fire Marshal Rich Barr.

The chat took place on Monday, November 1, at 2:00 PM and is now closed, but you can read the full transcript on this page.

Lawrence Fire Marshal Rich Barr answers readers questions about fire safety in an online chat at the News Center on Monday.

Moderator: Thanks for joining. Maj. Rich Barr, the city’s fire marshal, will join us in a few minutes to discuss firefighting, the vulnerability of downtown to a major fire, smoking laws and any other questions you have related to Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical.

Moderator: Today, the Journal-World ran a story about how downtown may be vulnerable to fire.

http://www.ljworld.com/section/downtown/story/186350

Mike, Lawrence: Aren’t the KU dorms at least as dangerous as downtown, in terms of fire safety?

Fire Marshall Rich Barr: Mike, In terms of life hazard, they are very hazardous. KU has been renovating the dorms and installing fire sprinklers and updated alarm systems but still have one in process and three more to finish. Public Education with the students is really our only recourse since we have no enforcement authority at KU.

The downtown issue involves the impact that fire could have on a large number of businesses and the difficulty in fighting the fires. Life hazard is not as great as the dorms, but the building’s ability to burn is much greater.

Thanks, Rich

Downtown’s aging architecture potential threat for firefighters (11-01-04)

Tony, Lawrence: I’ve heard firefighters say they like the smoking ban, just because it makes it less likely for a cigarette fire to start inside a building downtown. Is that true?

Fire Marshall Rich Barr: Tony, Certainly anytime we can limit ignition sources we are better off. And in fact, many fires are caused by smoking materials. However the majority of those fires occur where people live,ie. houses and apartments.

The impact of smoking ban in lessening the fire hazard of downtown is questionable.

Thanks, Rich

Jay, Lawrence: How much would it cost for businesses to put in a sprinkler system? Would the city offer any financial assistance?

Fire Marshall Rich Barr: Jay, thanks for the question. Sprinkler system installation varies with the size of the area being protected and the needs of the property owner in making the system aesthetically pleasing.

6News video: Downtown Lawrence vulnerable to fire

Typically, retrofit installations, which most of the installations downtown would be, run between $1.25 and $2.00 per square foot excluding the cost of the fire line from the City water main.

In response to the question of financial assistance from the City, that would be a question for the elected officials once they had an accurate cost estimate.

Thanks, Rich

Victor, Lawrence: Is once a year enough for downtown fire safety inspections?

Fire Marshall Rich Barr: At this point annual inspections of the downtown is all we can accomplish with the staffing and inspection schedule. Currently both Fire Inspectors from the Prevention Division and the Engine Company personnel from the Operations Division conduct the inspections.

Business owners downtown have remained very diligent in correcting any concerns we point out. That certainly helps and reduces the need for additional inspections if they learn from the inspections.

Thanks, Rich

Bill, Lawrence: Are there any consequences for failing to live up to the fire codes? Are downtown businesses ever allowed to slide by because they won’t make needed changes?

Fire Marshall Rich Barr: The consequences for failing to correct violations discovered on inspections range from follow-up inspections until they are corrected to a complaint filed against the responsible party in Municipal Court.

Fines are established by ordinance at no less the $100 nor more than $200 per count.

Obviously, we prefer the violations to be corrected to limit the fire hazards that the business and its neighbors are exposed to.

We try not to let anyone slide when enforcing the City’s codes. We do however, attempt to be reasonable in allowing adequate time to correct the violations.

Thanks, Rich

Kelly, DeSoto: How would someone go about getting on with the Lawrence Fire Department?

Fire Marshall Rich Barr: Kelly, Since we just concluded our hiring process for the current Recruit Class, it may be another year before we start the process again.

The best advice is to go to the Personnel Office at City Hall and complete an “interest card” which will be sent to you notifying you of the start of our next selection process. This can also be done online by e-mailing Personnel at personnel@ci.lawrence.ks.us.

Prerequisites include Emergency Medical Technician certification and Fire Fighter I certification. You must be at least 18 years of age.

Thanks, Rich

Greg, Lawrence: Any hope of requiring only Class A roofs in the near future on residential structures in Lawrence?

Fire Marshall Rich Barr: Greg, this question has arisen a few times over the last few months. Our position on mandating the use of only non-combustible roof coverings would be supportive because we are limiting a fairly high fire load and fire spread hazard.

However, statistically we do not have very many fires on combustible roofs that have created significant dollar loss to the property or caused a conflagration.

I am also assuming that you are talking about new construction and not mandating the violation of potentially valid neighborhood covenants.

Thanks, Rich

Andrew, Lawrence: With the relocation of station 4 to the west, the current station 4 will be abandoned as an operating station. Are there plans to keep this beautiful and historic building in the department’s ownership?

Fire Marshall Rich Barr: Andrew, The City will retain ownership of the property and will determine its future use. The Department has no current plans to keep this building for use by Fire & Medical.

You are correct though. This station is very unique and has quite a history associated with it.

Thanks, Rich

Tammy, Lawrence: Why do we spend the extra money to paint the fire trucks that crap color! Why don’t we have red? I know that your guys hate that green. Help them Please !!!

Fire Marshall Rich Barr: Tammy, this question has been asked for years. The initial justification for the green trucks came from a Dallas Texas study on fire apparatus visibility and that study determined that red was not highly visible, particularly at night.

It is not a traditional color, as is red, however the cost to repaint the entire fleet would be daunting if the reason is only aesthetic.

The cost to paint the trucks is not really an extra cost, no more that choosing the color you want your car. All of our trucks are custom trucks which allows us the ability to chose the color during assembly.

Thanks, Rich

Moderator: We’ve run out of time for this chat. Thanks to everybody who posted questions, and to Maj. Barr for participating. See you next time!