Snowed-In Fire Hydrants

How does your community take care of clearing out fire hydrants in the winter months?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by ashfire on January 1, 2011 at 2:10pm

We show up and start shoveling. Public Works bury them with the snow plows and the public just don't think about it even if asked by the news media to do it.
You would think the water dept would send crews out to do it but not likey.
We have hydrants marked in our mapbooks as to what address or location it would be so we get there we have to see if its visable or has snow piled on top of it.
I know some places would have a sign or some marker device to mark the hydrant but our county can't afford it.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on January 1, 2011 at 6:07pm

We put a PSA and ask residents to look after the hydrants closest to them to keep them clear. I will clear out the one nearest me, even though it is on my neighbor's property.

We keep shovels on the pumps and will clear out a hydrant on a call, but it does waste time, and that is what we tell the public. We will go out and clear some hydrants if people call in because they are unable to.

I personally, liked on GMA after the snowstorm in NYC. They had a reporter on the sidewalk who was showing the "proper" way to shovel snow. He is digging in a snowbank two feet from a buried hydrant. Kind of like HELLLOO, why not clear out the hydrant???

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kirk D. Baughman on January 1, 2011 at 6:26pm

just tell the snow to go away. now that's funny.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on January 1, 2011 at 7:18pm

we just mark them with the palm trees. We've never lost one in the snow yet despite our lack of specialized precautions.

Of course, the snow doesn't get that deep on our semi-tropical island.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by john on January 1, 2011 at 8:35pm

they do not clear the fire hydrant when it snow

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bekks on January 1, 2011 at 10:24pm

No Hydrants = No problems.
lol

Tanker truck and an ice auger. Problem solved.

LOL

When I lived in the city I used to clear out around the hydrant in front of my house.
Kinda self preserving instinct....lol

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bekks on January 1, 2011 at 10:29pm

It would... but it might become "expected" unless it was done specifically as a media event to promote awareness.

Or combine it with the home inspection program.

FF inspect the homes, the Jr's/explores dig the plugs out as you go down the street.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Brian Dumser on January 2, 2011 at 1:06am

http://www.firefighternation.com/forum/topics/889755:Topic:1958386

This might help.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Russ on January 3, 2011 at 10:03am

i'm in south florida, dont rub our snowbound brothers noses in it please....meet me me at the beach and bring the coppertone i'm out

OK we do get ONE snowed in hydrant when they make snow for the kids downtown for christmas

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rachel on January 4, 2011 at 10:53am

Jr's inspecting plugs... We don't need that down here...only if it FLOODS!!!!! No snow comes our way!!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rob Vest on January 4, 2011 at 11:43am

We put out a public awareness announcement asking residents to clear a hydrant that is in their yard. We go out and clear hydrants near high risk and high occupancy buildings. At times we have had to use a skid loader borrowed from public works. 2 or 3 weekends a winter, as the snow dictates, the local boy scout troops dig out hydrants under a firefighters supervision for their community service projects.