Sandpoint mayor urges Bonner County to check fire-flow adequacy where the city supplies water outside city limits

Jeremy Grimm, mayor of Sandpoint, addressed the board during public comment to raise concerns about fire-flow adequacy in areas outside city limits where Sandpoint supplies treated water under wholesale agreements.

Grimm said the city provides water by agreement to some areas outside the municipal boundary and that the city is not the authority issuing building occupancy approvals in those jurisdictions. He urged county officials and neighboring jurisdictions (for example, Northside Fire and cities issuing occupancy) to ensure that building permits and occupancy approvals include review of fire flows and line pressures so new structures have adequate water for fire suppression based on their classification.

Mayor Grimm said Sandpoint maintains hydraulic models and warned that approving occupancy without reviewing modeled fire flows could risk responders' capacity in a large fire event. Commissioners thanked him for the information and said the comment would be noted; they advised the topic could be better addressed during the public-comment portion of the agenda when appropriate but acknowledged the substance of his concern.

Commissioners and staff noted follow-up would require coordination among water providers, permitting authorities and fire districts. Mayor Grimm said he intended to work with legal counsel and city staff on the issue and expected it to be an ongoing, intergovernmental topic as development continues in areas served by city water but outside the city limits.