Firefighters are asking city residents to clear three feet all around fire hydrants.
While municipal crews clear snow from the streets to allow for travel, fire hydrants just off the road often get buried. That can set up the potential for disaster, as fire departments then have to have one or more individuals dig out the snow around the hydrant, wasting valuable resources and time in battling an emergency situation. Firefighters say that time lost digging snow could sometimes result in a loss of life.
While clearing snow around fire hydrants is technically nobody's official responsibility, it's actually everyone's responsibility because one never knows when a fire is going to take place. If you see a hydrant near your home or office that's covered, please grab a shovel and help out.
