HomeMy WebLinkAboutEJFR re: Propane generator, propane tank, water tanks, heat pumps $81,200American Rescue Plan Act Funding Request For
Emergency Preparedness Enhancements to East Jefferson Fire and Rescue Station 1-2
Last year the Marrowstone Island Foundation, through generous donations from 30% of island residents, raised
$149,220 to design, build, and install crew quarters at EJFR Fire Station 1-2 on Marrowstone Island. The intention was to
both improve fire response times in one of the driest regions of Jefferson County and medical emergency response
times on the island where almost one in three residents is over 65. The fire station is also intended to provide a center
for emergency response in the event that the island is cut off from the mainland following an earthquake and tsunami.
Data from Jefferson PUD indicates that Marrowstone island has been without electrical power for 3,429 hours in the last
six years, with the average outage lasting just under 10 hours. Based on modeling from the Washington Geological
Survey, in the event of a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake and tsunami, Marrowstone Island is highly likely to be
cutoff from the mainland without electricity or public water for weeks. Current plans are to use the station as a central
storage point for food, water, and medical supplies, plus a communications hub with a shortwave radio station and
Internet through a public access WIFI. The station has its own well and can provide water for those who rely on public
water and, if water tanks were installed, the well could be used to fill the tanker truck to continue to respond to fire
emergencies while isolated.
To meet these needs the station would need an electrical generator, a propane tank large enough to keep the station
running for an extended period, and a water tank to store well water.
Request 1:
Fund the purchase and installation of a 20kW propane standby generator, transfer switching, and a 1000-gallon
propane tank. Frederickson Electric has calculated that a 20kW generator would meet the fire needs.
Cost: A 20kW Kohler standby generator with three transfer switches (one for each building) can be purchased
for $9,400; A 1000-gallon propane tank can be purchased for $8,500 (delivered and filled). Installation of both
should be accomplished for $17,900.
Total cost $35,800.
Request 2:
Fund the purchase and installation of two 2,500-gallon water tanks to store well water. This would be enough
to fill the tanker twice if fighting a fire and still have a reserve for islanders needs.
Cost: $5,500 to purchase the tanks and $12,200 to install the tank and plumb it to the well with suitable shutoff
mechanism.
Total Cost $17,200.
Request 3:
Currently all three building at Fire Station 1-2 are heated with electric resistive heating, which is not very
efficient. We would like to convert the buildings to heat pumps to reduce the electrical demand and extend the
time that the generator can provide service.
Frederickson Electric estimates the cost for three mini-split heat pumps to cover the three buildings is $13,900
for the south building, $11,400 for the crew quarters, and $8,900 for the north building.
Total cost, after PUD rebates of $6,000, would be $28,200.
These additions to the fire station would greatly enhance the resilience of Marrowstone Island in the event of a regional
disaster. This benefit would not just apply to the 1,000 residents of Marrowstone Island but, also to the visitors to the
on any given day could triple the island population.
Thank you for considering our request.
Kindest Regards,
Douglas Moore
Chair, Resilience Committee
Marrowstone Island Foundation
Phone: (215) 570-0552
Email: dmoore@colmares.com