2006-04-07 Friday NewsThe Friday News
April 7, 2006
MENDOTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
There was an incident at the Mendota School at 3:45 P.M. this Wednesday. The Fire Department was
dispatched to a reported explosion with smoke visible at Mendota School. Officer Eric Peterson was at
the school at the time of the explosion and was the initial caller via radio. (There was a person in the
school that also pulled the fire alarm and a nearby resident called 9-1-1).
Officer Peterson then responded to the sou th side of the school and turned off the valve on a large
propane tank that was feeding two construction heaters. Upon arrival, the Fire Department let the
remaining gas burn off. This decision was made based on the fact there was no further damage that was
going to occur because it was outside and that it would assure that the hazard (any unburned propane)
would not reignite.
There are two 1.3 million BTU temporary heaters at the school to provide temporary heat during
construction. The cause of the fire and explosion was linked to a malfunctioning vaporizer from one of
these heaters that leaked gas. The explosion dislodged the hoses to the two construction heaters and the
unit burned out of control until Officer Peterson shut of the propane. Now that it is warm outside, these
temporary heaters are no longer needed and will remain turned off. (The onsite construction
superintendent said that in his 22 years of using these heaters, he has never had this problem before).
The quick actions by Officer Peterson helped keep the situation from becoming a bigger incident. While
we don’t typically condone Police Officers getting this involved in a fire incident, it is worth noting that
Officer Peterson is also a Farmington Firefighter and on the Dakota County Domestic Preparedness
Special Operations Team.
Damage was contained to the construction equipment involved with no other property damage. The
public was never in danger. A good job was done by all!! Thank you!
MORE FIRE DEPARTMENT NEWS
This Tuesday at the City Council meeting, Fire Chief John Maczko introduced new Firefighter Justin
Fitzgerald. Justin lives right next to Mendota Heights in West St. Pal and works at the Home Depot in
Apple Valley. Justin replaces retired Firefighter Jim Perron. Welcome to Justin.
Roy Kingsley who has been a fire investigator in Apple Valley was just promoted to be the Apple Valley
Fire Marshal – congratulations to Roy!
PILOT KNOB DEDICATION
Council Member Schneeman has been working with the Trust For Public Land to schedule a dedication
ceremony for Pilot Knob. They have set Thursday, June 1st as the dedication date. Council Member
Schneeman and I worked this week on preparing for that event – mark you calendars.
Respectfully submitted,
Jim Danielson
Attachments: Pipeline, Just the Facts, Parks and Recreation Agenda , Airport Relations Commission
Agenda, Planning Commission Agenda Synopsis, Articles: “$26M overhaul planned for Sibley”, “Front
and center – Vikings Birk brings back a taste of old St. P aul with opening of Matty B’s, “Sage Market &
Wine Bar to open in MH this summer”, “Preliminary plan gets little support”, Letter from Dakota
Partnership for Healthy Communities”, and the March 31 Friday Fax.