You clear snow off your sidewalks, but you may not think to dig out nearby fire hydrants.

Deputy Fire Chief Linda Masson says residents living near fire hydrants can help the Fire Department tremendously by clearing snow away from fire hydrants.

"We really ask residents that if they have a hydrant on or near their property, to take a few minutes to clear the snow around it. Clearing that hydrant can take vital minutes away from the fire crews when they arrive at the scene of a fire."

With the recent snow fall, many hydrants around the city are under the white stuff, and the problem can get worse as the weather warms.

"With the large amount of snow that we've had recently, many hydrants can be covered. They also can be buried when road crews plow the streets. And as the temperature warms now, as we're seeing, the snow can turn to ice quite easily."

Masson says that if crews arrive at the scene of a fire and the hydrant is buried in snow, they will need to take the time to dig it out before connecting their hoses. That is time that could otherwise be dedicated to fighting the fire.

 

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