Snowfall, combined with the snow plowed from roadways, often bury fire hydrants under a large amount of snow, thus making them difficult to find and use. Should there be a fire nearby, precious time is lost as firefighters work to locate hydrants and shovel snow away before hoses can be hooked up to them. In the situation of a fire, time is critical and every second counts. The extra minutes that a firefighter spends digging out a hydrant can make a big difference in how quickly a fire can be extinguished and the damage to be limited.
Don't let your neighborhood hydrant remain "undercover". We are asking that you help us by keeping the fire hydrant closest to your residence or business clear of snow. Snow should be removed about three-feet (3') away from the hydrant in all directions and a pathway cleared between the hydrant and the nearest roadway. Exercise caution when clearing around the hydrant because of the potential for vehicle traffic nearby. Do not stand in the street and be careful not to slip and fall out into the roadway.