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Houston Workers Paint Fake Hydrant as Working Hydrant
HOUSTON - Houston city workers mistakenly thought a fake fire hydrant was the real thing, painted it blue and gave it a serial number.
But the homeowner realized the mistake and contacted the city.
Debbie Vogelsang told KPRC-TV that she was concerned that painting the old hydrant in the city's colors could cause dangerous confusion during a fire.
Her boyfriend, Brian Smith, bought the surplus fire hydrant at a garage sale three years ago, painted it red and plopped it next to his palm trees.
But a Houston maintenance worker last week repainted it yellow and blue and added a serial number.
Vogelsang the same day e-mailed the city.
Executive Assistant Fire Chief Rick Flanagan says the city will remove the serial number and a reflector wrongly indicating the fire hydrant was the real thing.
A public workers spokesman says the matter is under investigation.
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Information from: KPRC-TV, http://www.click2houston.com
Related
KPRC: Video
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
But the homeowner realized the mistake and contacted the city.
Debbie Vogelsang told KPRC-TV that she was concerned that painting the old hydrant in the city's colors could cause dangerous confusion during a fire.
Her boyfriend, Brian Smith, bought the surplus fire hydrant at a garage sale three years ago, painted it red and plopped it next to his palm trees.
But a Houston maintenance worker last week repainted it yellow and blue and added a serial number.
Vogelsang the same day e-mailed the city.
Executive Assistant Fire Chief Rick Flanagan says the city will remove the serial number and a reflector wrongly indicating the fire hydrant was the real thing.
A public workers spokesman says the matter is under investigation.
___
Information from: KPRC-TV, http://www.click2houston.com
Related
KPRC: Video
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
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Good for the homeowner to have the wherewithall to contact the FD about this. The only question is where was this hydrant to be easily confused by the worker, was it by the curb or similar proximity as the other hydrants? Or was this a case of a worker told to just go and repaint the hydrants? I'm glad the homeowner said something.
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Permalink Reply by Oldman on
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Only in Houston.
This hydrant was a good distance (>70') from the road, inside a flowerbed. The city worker didn't notice that it would wobble and if pushed, would fall over.
Not only was the hydrant painted and a serial number applied, but a blue reflector was applied to the road as well.
The homeowner wants his hydrant repainted back to red. The city gave no indication of when that might happen.
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Permalink Reply by Jay Nicholson on
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Ralph, get some yard art. I love mine. Hopefully it is far enough from the road so as not to be confused with an 'real' hydrant. When I set the bushes on fire next door, I did point out to the Capt. that 'my' hydrant was dry.
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