Winter is coming sooner than we think. In years past we've had areas where, after a heavy snowfall, the fire hydrants disappear due to ignorant civilians plowing out their driveways and covering them up. In addition to an awareness campaign trying to educate homeowners about the dangers of not keeping the hydrants near their homes unburied, my town has installed steel rods with little flags on top that attach to one of the caps on the hydrant. They easily flex out of the way when opening or closing the hydrant.
Several ajoining towns have done similar things to ensure their hydrants are able to be located after heavy snowfall. I was wondering what other F.D's are doing about this.
Ya we dont havent really gotten enough snow to cover our hydrant or make it difficult to get to them..Im from southern illinois so i guess we have the possibility but we just havent had it happen since ive been here..but if by chance it did happen no we arent prepared with anything to assist us n finding them...i know scary.
"Of course, the house with the EMS call will be the one with the driveway and sidewalk under 3 feet of snow. Not shoveled and the only door that opens to the house, is around back up the ice covered deck........"
I think I've been to that house, and it was like 2:30 in the morning and with NO outside lights on!
and what do you do Ralph.....? You call us for "lifting assistance"....LOL...We actually had a structure fire once on a certain County Route...called for ambulance on scene for standby....they called us and asked where on this route....We responded to keep coming and when they got to a Big truck with red lights on next to the house with flames shooting out the windows they would be there. Hmmmm...for some reason they didn't find this funny....guess some people have no sense of humor....
In 34 years here in Miami, it's HAS "snowed" twice, but I can't say we lost any hydrants, or other equipment due to it!! (Sorry, I couldn't resist either!)
every 6 months we do iso flow testing, and we use the gps and house numbers and street corners, an mark them in our hydrant folders. Our district is pretty good and really support our department.