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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.01 Condition 12- 12.31.12December 31, 2012 Kathy Eastley, AICP Senior Planner Garfield County Building and Planning 108 8th Street, #401 Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 CC: Ron Biggers, Deputy Fire Marshal, Glenwood Springs Fire Department Dear Kathy, Resolution 2012-15 Condition 12 (dated 2/21/12) outlines the requirement for an Emergency Management Plan to include evacuation information, safety issues and any existing or proposed mitigation measures, and medical emergency plan for Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. Since the Resolution, we have worked closely with Ron Biggers, Glenwood Springs Deputy Fire Marshal to develop a plan in order meet the requirements. We have consulted with the following professionals to assist with the research, analysis and development of the Emergency Management Plan: Deputy Fire Marshal, Ron Biggers; Life Safety and Fire Protection Engineer, Deborah Shaner (Shaner Life Safety); Wild Fire Management, Chris White (Anchor Point); Amusement Park Consultant, John Pierce (Comspeq Consulting, Inc.); underground specialist, Rick Baptista, (Blackwing); and Park Owner, Steve Beckley (Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park). We have also conducted extensive fire mitigation through tree thinning the Southwest hillside. I have attached the analysis and the Emergency Management Plan which satisfies the requirement as outlined by Resolution 2012-15. Please let me know if there is anything else I need to provide. Respectfully submitted, Nancy Heard Operations Manager Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park 51000 Two Rivers Plaza Road Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 Phone (970) 379-9704 Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park Emergency Management Plan Owner: Steve Beckley Operations Manager: Nancy Heard Authority Having Jurisdict ion: Glenwood Spring Fire Department Report Prepared by: Deborah Shaner, P.E. Fi re Protection Engineer Shaner I ., Safety www.shanerlifesafety.com Date: 12/21/12 Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park Emergency Management Plan General Information Park Description 12/21/12 Page 2 Glenwood Caverns Ad~enture Park is a amusement park and extensive cave system located in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. The park is accessed by a 4,300-foot Gondola ride which takes visitors to the top of Iron Mountain. The Park includes a variety of attractions which include: • Cavern/Cave Tour • Alpine Coaster • Roller Coaster • Zip Line • Giant Swing • Visitor Center with Restaurant • Child play areas • 3-D Theater • Laser Tag The Visitor Center is approximately 14,500 square feet and consists of 3 levels (Lower, Main, Upper). This building is the main structure located at the park and houses a variety of uses including: • Tram Station • Restaurant/Kitchen • Laser Tag • Theater • Offices • Gift Shop The Storage Building is located at the gate entrance off of Transfer Trail. This building is approximately 1800 square feet and houses storage, general maintenance equipment and tools. There are two fuel tanks outside of this building. Other buildings/structures are very small and are used for storage and/or to house small attractions (i.e. photo booth, concession stand, ticket counter). Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is open year round. During the high season, approximately 1000 people per day visit the park. In low season, numbers drop substantially. The park employs approximately 100 people. Basis of Emergency Plan This emergency plan is intended to present general procedures and protocols for emergency response, provide an overview of equipment, features and life safety systems and present recommendations for improvements. Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park Emergency Management Plan 12/21/12 Page 3 The basis of the report assumes certain emergency conditions. Potential emergency events that can be expected at the park include: • Forest Fire • Facility Fire • Tram Derailment (procedures are already in place) • Medical Emergency • Weather Emergency A supplemental report has been prepared by Anchor Point which includes a "Time Until Fire Arrival" Study. This is attached as an Appendix. The information contained in this report provides a basis for the time expected between the start of a wildfire in nearby areas and the time it would take to reach. This time line provides a basis for making a decision to evacuate or defend in place. Access There are two main access routes to the park, the Gondola and Transfer Trail. The gondola ride is approximately 12 minutes and is a leisurely ride from the Base Station/Ticket Counter to the Upper Tram Deck at the entrance to the park. The Gondola is a fairly unreliable evacuation route and/or access route in the event of an emergency response situation. Though it is on emergency power, the ride is slow and can be stop and go depending on conditions. In addition, in poor weather conditions including high wind, lightning and storms, the Gondola will be shut down, as travel is not safe. Note that tram derailment procedures are already in place. The tram power is backed up with a diesel engine. Transfer Trail is the only access road into the park. This road is dirt/gravel and originates at the base of the Gondola. The road (from the main turnoff) is approximately 2.5 miles and takes 10-12 minutes to drive using a comfortable pace. The road is well maintained year round. The facility has buses available to transport passengers down the mountain in the event that the tram is shut down or unusable. All emergency access (i.e. fire department, ambulance) uses Transfer Trail to enter the park. In addition to motorized access, Boy Scout Trail does provide pedestrian access. Though the park is accessible on foot, this trail is steep and not maintained year round. It is not recommended as a path of egress or emergency access. Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park Emergency Management Plan Emergency Plan Information Emergency Response Overview 12/21/12 Page 4 Glenwood Cavern's Management is developing emergency response procedures. There will be two main options in the event on an emergency, 1) Evacuation or 2) Defend in Place. Evacuation would be preferred, but will only occur if it is safe to do so in an allotted amount of time. Evacuation may be by Gondola, Transfer Trail or a combination of both. Defend in place will consist of moving occupants to a shelter point and waiting out any emergency condition. Assumptions Several assumptions have been made in determining emergency response procedures. 1) Glenwood Springs Fire Department will respond via Transfer Trail in the event of a Park Fire. 2) Glenwood Springs Fire Department will not respond to the park in the event of a Wildfire that threatens the integrity ofTransfer Trail. 3) Water supply will be available to the Fire Department at all times. 4) Patrons will follow staff direction. Those that do not and attempt to self evacuate will not be the responsibility of staff. 5) Per the Anchor Point report, a wildfire could reach the park within 30 minutes. This number is being used as the worst case timeline for decision making. Emergency Assembly Point The Main Plaza area will be designated at the Emergency Assembly Point. In the event of an emergency, trained staff will be available at this area to direct patrons on emergency procedures. Mass notification audible directions will direct visitors to this area in most cases. Designated Emergency Personnel Glenwood Caverns management has deSignated certain personnel as emergency response personnel during an event. The Incident Commander will be the main point of contact and will direct communication with authorities, patrons and other staff. Designated staff will be responsible for performing equipment/attraction shutdown, directing patrons to evacuation routes and sweeping specific areas (zones). Each zone will be secured during emergency procedures by Zone Commanders, who will report directly to the Incident Commander. The following emergency personnel will participate in the evacuation process: Incident Commander This person will be the point person during the evacuation process. Their duties include: 1. Communications with Fire Department, Emergency Response personnel Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park Emergency Management Plan 2. Facilitate access to park for emergency responders 3. Communications with Zone Commanders 4. Communications with Tram Operators Zone Commander Each Zone Commander will be responsible for clearing their assigned zone. Duties include: 1. Shutdown of ride or attractions within zone 2. Communication with staff located within zone 3. Direct patrons to Plaza Area (Zone 9) 4. Sweep zone to ensure all patrons have been evacuated 5. Secure zone once clear by closing gate or blocking entry by other means. 6. Report to Incident Commander Guest Communications/Public Intetface (MOD) 12/21/12 Page 5 The designated Manager on Duty (MOD) will be aSSigned this role during an emergency condition. Duties include: 1. Communications with Incident Commander 2. Interface with patrons 3. Direction of patrons to evacuation route 4. Communication with public through remote microphone 5. Monitoring of evacuation routes Tram Operators The Lower Tram Attendant will remain in their normal post and be responsible for tram operations. Duties include: 1. Communication with Incident Commander 2. Control oftram operation 3. Ensure no entry onto tram in an emergency condition The Upper Tram Attendant will remain in their normal post and will have the following duties: 1. Communication with Incident Commander 2. Control of tram operation 3. Monitoring of weather station Cave Attendants There will be four cave attendants, two at each entry (upper and lower) and two within the cave. Duties of the Cave Entry Attendants include: Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park Emergency Management Plan 1. Direction of patrons into shelter point. 2. Assure patrons of their safety 3. Manage entry point logistics Duties of the Cave Shelter Point Attendants include: 1. Encourage people movement into cave. 2. Assure patrons of their safety. 3. Attend to emergency needs of patrons (i.e. supplies, blankets) 4. Set up emergency supplies Emergency Evacuation Procedures In the event of an emergency, the following general procedures will be followed: 1. Incident Commander will assess emergency situation. 2. Contact necessary and applicable emergency personnel. 3. Consult weather conditions at weather station. 12/21/12 Page 6 4. Determine if Tram and/or Bus evacuation is feasible. If yes, begin evacuation procedures. If not, cave shelter shall be implemented. 5. Alert Zone Commanders and Staff of evacuation plan. 6. Communicate with patrons to facilitate evacuation. Emergency Equipment/Communications Several systems are in place to assist with operations during an emergency. These include: 1. Radios: This is the most important system for staff communication and must be reliable and operational at all times. Staff will be well trained in radio communication and procedures will be in place to ensure effective communication. 2. Fire Alarm System: This is present in the Visitor's Center and provides both an automatic and manual means for contacting the fire department. 3. Weather Stations: These computer workstations provide detailed weather information and can assist staff by providing valuable information on incoming weather conditions. Emergency Shelter Point The cave is proposed to be the emergency shelter point in the event that park evacuation is not possible. The cave can accommodate up to 1500 people comfortably. The year round temperature is S2 degrees F. Several improvements are noted in the Recommendations Section of the report. If evacuation is deemed impossible or dangerous or if there is simply not enough time to evacuate, patrons and staff will be directed to the cave for shelter. The cave is well ventilated and provides a safe place to wait out weather related or wildfire type emergencies. It will take approximately 20 minutes to evacuate all patrons into the cave. Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park Emergency Management Plan Life Safety Systems 12/21/12 Page 7 This section provides a description of park features which facilitate effective emergency response. Fire Alarm The Visitor's Center is equipped with a fire alarm system which is up to date and well maintained. It provides a manual and automatic means for contacting the fire department. Mass Notification A sitewide paging/speaker system is provided. This system is absolutely key in effective communication to visitors. Refer to the recommendations sections for proposed improvements. Fire Sprinklers The Visitor's Center is fully sprinklered. A fire department connection is provided on the exterior of the building. Water Supply The park is equipped with a 70,000 gallon tank used for everyday domestic water use as well as firefighting water. Approximate park water usage is 1000 gallons per day in the winter and up to 5000 gallons per day in the summer. The tank fills through pumped water which is brought up through piping installed on the Gondola track. Filling rate is 30 gallons per minute. The tank is attached to a hydrant, centrally located in the Main Plaza area. This is dedicated for firefighting and is adjacent to the fire truck staging area. A site glass water level monitor is installed and checked regularly to ensure an adequate water supply for firefighting is provided at all times. Refer to N FPA 1142 analysis for demonstration of water supply adequacy. Weather Monitoring The park is equipped with advanced weather monitoring stations located at the top and bottom of Gondola. These computer stations provide detailed information on incoming storms, wind speed, lighting presence, precipitation and temperature. This information is extremely useful in foreseeing weather related events and preparing staff for proper response. Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park Emergency Management Plan Recommendations Staff Training 12/21/12 Page 8 Basic emergency response training for staff is recommended, particularly for those who will assume roles during an emergency. Types of training include: • Basic First Aid • Emergency Fire Responder • CPR • Basic Wildfire Training Site Improvements A second fire hydrant located near the Storage Building at the gate entrance from Transfer Trail has been requested by the Glenwood Springs Fire Department. This is a sound request and an excellent recommendation for improving fire department response. Currently, the only water source for the fire department at the park is the hydrant located in the main plaza area. This is an excellent location and provides central access to most buildings and attractions. However, the fire department is required to drive through part of the park to access it. Depending on the location of the fire or hazard, the hydrant could be inaccessible. A hydrant closer to the entrance could ensure better access to the water supply. Some fire fuel mitigation has been completed in the areas surrounding the park. It is recommended that this continues and is an ongoing process. Additional mitigation is recommended along the roadside of Transfer Trail. Fire breaks could be created at all property lines to isolate the owner's land from adjacent properties. This requires complete removal of brush, trees and other fuel along the. property line. A recommended fire break is 20 feet. Communication with Authorities Consider integrating radios with fire department and emergency response personnel for both medical and fire type events. Signage Emergency sign age needs substantial improvement. There are several options for achieving this. Obvious sign age noting "Evacuation Route" could be installed along the path of egress. If the aesthetics of the park environment are of concern, consider an alternative method of signage. Discreet labels (in the form of arrows, leaves, paw prints, etc) could mark routes. Mass notification announcements will alert patrons and instruct them to follow the paths of evacuation. Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park Emergency Management Plan Backup Power 12/21/12 Page 9 The Visitor's Center is equipped with a backup generator which could provide backup power for the following systems: • Radios • Paging/mass notification • Alpine Coaster return line • Weather station information Mass Notification The existing paging system is ideal in concept, but is poorly executed in its existing state. There are multiple dead spots in the pedestrian path areas specifically between attractions. In addition, intelligibility is poor in most areas. The paging system is extremely important in executing an effective, safe, timely evacuation/emergency response procedure. Therefore, it is recommended that a contractor who specializes in mass notification and intelligibility be contacted to provide a proposal to upgrade the system. The mass notification system should have the following features: 1) Intelligibility to all park visitors within the public path areas 2) Backup power supply through batteries or generator 3) Ability for multiple prerecorded messages to accommodate a variety of emergency responses including park evacuation, movement to shelter point, weather advisories, staff communication and general public communication. Mass notification system could also include visual displays. TV screens throughout the park could serve a dual purpose of notifying patrons of daily park events and specials and could transform to notification of instructions in the event of an emergency. Shelter Point Improvements The cave is certainly capable of containing the maximum number of expected park attendees. However, there are a few recommended improvements to ensure ultimate comfort and safety of guests. Effective, safe people movement within the cave and its access points is key to executing timely movement of patrons into the shelter. Lighting: Emergency lighting within the cave needs improvement. During normal cave operation, the existing lighting is sufficient and understandable considering the circumstances. During tours, movement is slow, deliberate and guided. However, stairs and footing is irregular and fast people movement would be difficult, particularly with the conditions often observed in an emergency condition. Additional emergency lighting is recommended to be used only in the event of an Emergency Response. Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park Emergency Management Plan 12/21/12 Page 10 Door Holders: The cave is accessed by two separate entrances, upper and lower. At the lower entrance, a corridor must be traveled in order to access the cave. There are two sets of double doors which are cumbersome in the event of a substantial number of people entering for shelter. It is recommended that door hold open hardware be installed so the doors can be propped open during evacuation into the cave. Comfort Items: The demographic of park patrons varies. During an emergency condition, park visitors could be susceptible to altitude sickness, anxiety, slow mobility, dehydration, heat stroke or hypothermia depending on the season. Weather related emergencies could cause patrons to enter the cave wet and cold or overheated. To lessen the risk of patrons succumbing to issues during an emergency condition it is recommended that the following be stored in the cave: • Water • Food (Le. granola bars, protein bars) • Blankets • First Aid Kit • Towels • Flashlights • Chemical toilet(s) and privacy curtain Visitor In/ormation Park Visitors do not need to have complete knowledge of emergency procedures prior to visiting the park. However, effective communication with them during an evacuation is important for success. Providing basic emergency information on park maps or main directories could be useful. Simple information such as, "In the event of an emergency, staff will direct your evacuation. Please meet in Main Plaza area for information". Also, verbiage could be added to the Activities Waiver indicating that visitors are responsible for following staff direction in the event of an emergency. Failure to do so puts them at risk. Appendix #1: Photos View from Viewing Platform near Giant Swing. Foot access is not recommended. People on one available cave platform/gathering area Stair access to shelter points within cave Large platform in cave, recommended as staging area for distributing supplies Cave shelter point access. Recommend door hold open devices during evacuation to assist in effective people movement. Corridor access to shelter point Exterior access point to cave Main Plaza area. Ensure adequate room for fire tru ck access. .~. In' . ,." (, (' 1 I l //. -(. , Typical public walkway, well maintained for people movement. Transfer Trail road access. Alternate view of Transfer Trail Maintenance Building. Tram loading area. Gondola track Photography by: Denise Richter Appendix #2: NFPA 1142 Analysis Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is not served by a municipal water supply. Rather, the fire protection water supply will be provided from the park's private water tank. This tank has a capacity of 70,000 gallons and provides both domestic and fire protection water. The tank is filled from water piping that runs along the tram track, supplied at a rate of approximately 30 gallons per minute. To demonstrate that adequate water supply is provided, an NFPA 1142 analysis has been completed. NFPA 1142, Standard for Water Supplies for Suburban and Rural Fire Fighting provides a method for calculating the minimum water supply required for a rural facility. The standards states that on a multiple building site, only the most restrictive building's water supply as calculated is required. In other words, the water supply is not sized assuming all buildings are in a fire condition. Rather, it is sized assuming the most demanding building is in a fire condition. The most demanding building on the site by far is the Visitors Center. The Visitor Center is approximately 14,500 square feet and consists of 3 levels (Lower, Main, Upper). This building is the main structure located at the park and houses a variety of uses including: Tram Station, Restaurant/Kitchen, Laser Tag, Theater, Offices, and Gift Shop. The building is primarily wood construction. NFPA 1142's formula for determining minimum recommended water supply is as follows: Minimum Water Supply = (Total Volume of Structure)/(Occupancy Hazard Classification Number) x Construction Classification Number The Occupancy Classification numbers are assigned by Section 5.2 NFPA 1142 and are based on the specific use of the building. The Visitor Center has been assigned an Occupancy Classification of 5 which includes Restaurants and Amusement buildings. The Construction Classification number is assigned by Section 6.2 and is based on the materials of building construction. Because this building is primarily wood, a Construction Classification of Type V is assigned, which carries a 1.5 Classification Number. Occupancy Hazard Classification Number = 5 Construction Classification Number = 1.5 Approximate Building Volume = 145,000 cubic feet MinimumWater Supply = 130,500 cu.ft./5 x 1.5 = 43,500 gallons Based on these calculations, the 70,000 gallon water tank is sufficient to serve the site. Appendix #3: Fire Department Interview Notes On November 8, 2012, an interview was conducted with Ron Biggers with the Glenwood Springs Fire Department to review fire department response protocols. Notes from the interview are as follows: The fire department will respond with a water tender truck, a standard fire engine or a pumper truck. Aerial or ladder trucks will not respond. The water tender will provide 1800 gallons of water. The pump can provide 1250 gpm at pressure. Fire department response will be via Transfer Trail. The fire department has access to 4 wheel drive vehicles. A second hydrant location has been requested by the fire department. The fire department is concerned that adequate water supply is not provided. Refer to the NFPA 1142 analysis for water supply data. The existing fire department connection on the Main Building is obstructed by fencing and other objects. Fire departments requests clearing of area around fire department connection. Fire department requests that integrity of fire truck turnaround be maintained. During development of staff training options, consider Basic Wildfire Training and Emergency Responder training. If a bunker is provided, the fire department suggests storage of basic firefighting equipment including high rise packs, hose p'acks, tools (axe, shovel). Extra fire extinguishers are also recommended. Initial response will be from Station #1. Firefighters will be ready in 1-2 minutes. Trip up transfer trail is +/-15-20 minutes. Consider dry standpipes for future park expansion. Consider utilizing a multiuse ATV for evacuation, emergency response and equip it with a backboard stretcher.