Home Depot won't close doors

JOEL DAVIDSON/Frontiersman reporter

WASILLA -- The Alaska State Fire Marshal's office indicated that, if asked, it would be willing to extend Home Depot's 90-day temporary permit to keep the world's largest home-improvement retailer from closing its Wasilla store.

Just prior to its grand opening, Home Depot learned it had inadequate water pressure for its fire-prevention sprinkler system and was forced to open with that temporary permit from the state fire marshal's office.

Home Depot claims the city is responsible for the lack of water pressure to its store, while city officials say Home Depot is at fault for relying on faulty information when it first built and designed its sprinkler system.

In a letter dated Nov. 30, an attorney for Home Depot indicated the company was willing to seek legal action against the city if it did not find a solution.

The current sprinkler system, designed by Home Depot's engineers, does not meet the state's water-pressure requirements and the temporary permit was allowed with the understanding that a solution must be reached soon to avoid closing the store.

Earlier this month, while admitting no fault, the city submitted plans to the state fire marshal's office, indicating that it had plans to enhance water flow to the new store and resolve the water-pressure problem.

The controversy surrounds a water-pressure gauge reading Home Depot took from a water hydrant near its store prior to constructing its sprinkler system. Home Depot claims the reading indicated there was adequate pressure to support its sprinkler system. Based on that information, Home Depot decided to use the city's water line rather than install its own water tanks.

According to Wasilla Public Works Director Archie Giddings, Home Depot's water-gauge information was wrong and the pressure was never high enough to support its current sprinkler system.

"Their gauge was reading a little high and it should have been double-checked," he said. "They based their pressure reading off one test and the reading they got was slightly off."

Home Depot claims the reading was accurate, however, and its attorney, William Earnhart, said there was an understanding with the city that adequate pressure would be available for the store's sprinkler system.

"We were assured we would have the pressure," Earnhart said. "We built the store and the water pressure was so low it was not enough for the entire fire-prevention system."

Giddings maintains Home Depot was in error but the city has agreed to provide a solution, which involves accelerating pre-existing plans to develop water pressure along the Palmer-Wasilla Highway Extension. According to Giddings, the city already had plans to increase the water pressure along the extension but those developments were still a few years off. Home Depot's situation made the project a high priority.

Built at a higher elevation than any other major developments in the city, Home Depot faces a unique challenge in regards to water pressure. The city's water system operates based on gravity, meaning the higher the elevation, the more difficult it is to maintain water pressure.

Giddings said the city has a surplus of state and federal funds left over from a recent water-main project this summer, which connected water lines from Knik-Goose Bay Road down the Palmer-Wasilla Highway Extension to the Parks Highway and back up to Main Street. Using the surplus money, Giddings said the city will either install a water-pressure booster near the Home Depot or construct a water tank. Giddings said the tank is the preferred solution.

"That's why we were willing to go in there," he said. "If I had no leftover grant money, I couldn't have accelerated this project."

Giddings estimates a water tank would cost roughly $1 million. He said construction would probably be completed at the end of the upcoming summer construction season, around September.

In the meantime, Home Depot will likely need another temporary permit to stay open for business. State Fire Marshal Gary Powell said he sees no reason why another extension would not be granted.

"Our policy is that if people are actively working on an issue, we would certainly grant an extension," he said in a phone message. "So we see no problems with an extension."

Central Mat-Su Fire Chief Jack Krill said Home Depot's current fire prevention system is not a life-safety issue but more of a fire-structure issue.

"It's not that high of a risk to where we want them to shut down the store," he said. "It's more of a property-safety issue. If there was an aggressive fire, the property loss would be very significant."

Wasilla's long-term plans for the Palmer-Wasilla Highway Extension are to encourage more commercial expansion up the hill, south of the Alaska Railroad. Giddings said a new water tower would benefit any new developments in that elevated area.

Contact Joel Davidson at joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.