DECISION NO.97RA001-115
DATE:June 3, 1997
The premises consist of an industrial occupancy which was last occupied by a waste transfer and drum cleaning operation. There are five buildings on the site containing plastics, cardboard boxes, various machinery and flammable and combustible liquids housed in metal and plastic drums. Two buildings and the grounds of the premises were the focus of the Fire Marshals Order. The first building is 50 ft. x 240 ft. with a 22 ft. ceiling and used for storing, cleaning and crushing drums. It contained approximately 400 steel and plastic drums, numerous cylinders containing trace amounts of mercaptain and waste plastic. The building is metal clad and is constructed on a steel frame with cement floors. The second building is 60 ft. x 300 ft. with an 18 ft. ceiling. The building is constructed with metal siding over wood and a metal roof with wood columns. A two sided wood partition separates the drum storage (approximately 1600 drums) from a machine shop including welding operations. A spill of flammable or combustible liquids could migrate from the storage area into the machine shop where ignition sources are present. The yard and buildings are not secured against unwanted entry. Fire exposures include manufacturing, warehouse and commercial occupancies, farm land, a railroad and a residential subdivision within 500 ft.
The fire department believes the site presents an imminent threat to life and has unsuccessfully tried to have the owner clean up the site through negotiations and a Fire Marshals Order. In addition, there was evidence of unauthorized entry by area youths.
The Fire Code Commission granted the fire department authorization to do the work as follows:
In the Commission’s opinion, it was unlikely the owner would control
access to the property and buildings and the conditions present, should a
fire occur, would endanger the safety of the community and firefighters and
impair the quality of the natural environment.
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