YOUR AD HERE »

New rule may help firefighting

by Scott Murphy, Staff Writer

Firefighters hope a proposed business licensing form can stop firms that handle hazardous materials from operating without contacting county authorities.

One part of East Fork Fire and Paramedics District’s efforts will be considered today by the Douglas County Commission.

The fictitious firm license was prompted by last September’s explosion on Airport Road at an aerosol recycling plant that killed 34-year-old Jamie Gonzales of Gardnerville.



East Fork Fire Chief Tod Carlini said firefighters need to learn basic information about businesses regarding potential hazards such as the exploding aerosol cans discovered by more than 50 firefighters during the fatal Sept. 17 fire.

“I personally didn’t know” Depressurized Technologies International Inc. was there, Carlini said. “Much less what they did.”



The explosion tore off part of the building’s roof.

“We want to have the necessary information that we need to make our responses safe,” he said.

A fictitious firm license, which will be considered Thursday at 1 p.m. by county commissioners, is one of several solutions being sought by East Fork Fire, he said.

Other remedies include using the current state fire marshal’s hazardous material lists, the fictitious name filing and sending businesses a basic form to fill out.

The fire district will also pursue information about businesses using the existing fire and business code, which was adopted earlier by county commissioners.

“We’re putting a lot of faith in the business community,” Carlini said.

“We have obviously some sort of a needs, when do we inspect and verify their information,”

Carlini also wants some sort of annual and bi-annual schedule of when the information needs to be updated.

“I think we can make this a win-win situation for our needs and for local businesses,” he said.

“It’s so important for us to have this information and work with us, the public safety, workers, our responders,” he added.

In other business, commissioners will :

— Consider a request by Scolari’s Food and Drug to increase the number of gaming devices from 15 to 25.

— Consider establishing another alcohol and drug counselor position for China Spring Youth Camp.

n Hear the Bureau of Land Management’s presentation regarding the Pine Nut Mountains plan amendment and environmental impact statement.

— Discuss two letters dated Dec. 28, 2001 by Judy Sturgis alleging the commission violated the state’s open meeting law Nov. 1 when it approved a land division application from Southwest Pointe Partners concerning a land development above Jacks Valley on Schneider Ranch.


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

Readers around the Lake Tahoe Basin and beyond make the Tahoe Tribune's work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Your donation will help us continue to cover COVID-19 and our other vital local news.