By Lee Ross
Albuquerque Journal (New Mexico)
Copyright 2007 Albuquerque Journal
TIJERAS, N.M. — Some Tijeras businesses may have fire code violations, and village councilors plan to visit those places today, along with a few other businesses.
Local businesses were a major topic of conversation at Monday’s meeting of the Tijeras Village Council.
Tijeras Fire Chief Dave Bezy said some businesses have violations such as extension cords running to the back of the business or only one exit.
“If (a) fire starts at the front of the building, then these people are trapped,” said Councilor Gilbert Gutierrez.
Councilors also discussed businesses that operate inside another business, such as a massage parlor within a hair salon. Whether or not such businesses are in violation of village ordinances was unclear.
“I don’t want to be a bad guy,” Bezy said, referring to entering the businesses and enforcing village ordinances.
The mayor and council will conduct site visits to familiarize themselves with the issues today.
Also discussed was a June 11 village resolution to comply with the state’s Dee Johnson Clean Indoor Air Act.
The act bans smoking in buildings used by the public, including bars, and requires people to move a distance of at least 20 feet from the doorways of those buildings before smoking.
It might be tough to enforce.
“The only way you’re going to find out about it is if a resident turns somebody in,” Bezy said.
The council also approved $19,120 for new breathing equipment for the fire department. The money will buy four air tanks with masks and harnesses and eight spare air tanks that will remain on the fire engine.
“We’re pretty excited about it,” said Will Squibb, the fire department’s logistics coordinator.
The air tanks are fiberglass-wrapped bottles, according to Bezy, and should last about 20 years. They will be 45-minute tanks to upgrade the older system, which had a 30-minute air supply. The tanks, harnesses and masks will be kept on the department’s new engine, which was purchased last year for $237,000.
“It’s a new era,” Bezy said.
The council also approved $5,087.25 for additional equipment for the fire department’s new heart monitor, which was received through a grant from the state two months ago.