Jessen's Weekly

Fairbanks Fire Hall Roasted By Councilmen

Boucher Calls For Council Inspection Of New Edifice

By Colin Mick

The condition of Fairbanks' new Fire Hall came "under fire" at this week's City Council meeting.

The matter was brought up by Councilman Red Boucher who stated he felt the Council should make a close inspection of the building and go over the list of discrepancies discovered so far before final approval of the building is given. Boucher stated that wall panels are falling down. walls are cracking, and some of the acoustical ceiling tile is already starting to come down.

Answering a question by Councilman Brewington, City Manager Clifford Nordby stated that the City has only accepted the building for occupancy and use. He said there were still some things to be done which might not be completed before summer.

Nordby explained that the City will not make final payment until the building has been accepted. He pointed out that the prime contractor is bonded until final payment is made.

Charges Other Defects

Councilman Boucher then brought out several other defects which he said had been noted in the building. He said that in some instances the curtains had fallen down because the curtain rods were only fastened to the acoustical tile. He also stated that many doors were not hung properly, and wouldn't open, and that many of the wall panels were insecurely fastened.

Boucher also stated that the painting on the floor of the building is extremely dangerous, as it becomes very slippery when wet.

He said that one man has been out of action for several weeks with a badly sprained back he received when he slipped on the floor.

"The men themselves are concerned about this," he pointed out.

Councilman Brewington then asked if there was a fireman present at the meeting.

When a fireman identified himself Brewington asked, "Do you consider that floor a hazard?"

"Yes I do." was the reply.

"Do the other men feel this way?"

"I believe they do."

Switches Criticism

Brewington then switched his criticism to the hydraulically-operated steel clamshell doors on the day room fire pole. The doors require 120 pounds of pressure on the pole before they will open, and as most of the firemen do not put any weight on the pole until they reach the bottom, several of them have been hit by the closing doors.

"Do you have any objection to being second man down the (day-room) pole with the butterfly doors?" Brewington asked.

"Not if I use it properly," the fireman replied.

Brewington then asked if it were possible to get one's head chopped off by the doors.

The fireman said he thought it was possible, if the pole were used improperly.