Recent Incidents Clear Area Around Fire Hydrants During Snow Events January 21st, 2012, 11:45 AM

Keep Area Around Fire Hydrants Clear

To help insure their own safety and speed help in case of fire, Lancaster Township Fire Department is requesting residents to keep the areas around fire hydrants free of snow in the winter and weeds, shrubbery or flowers in the spring/summer months.

It is important when there is a fire, to be able to locate the fire hydrant and be able to get water from the hydrant as fast as possible. Being able to access water quickly can mean the difference in saving a life or a structure.

Large amounts of snow, weeds, shrubbery or flowers that needs to be removed from the hydrants could take up to 10 valuable minutes for firefighters to find the hydrant, remove the snow from around it to be able to get the supply lines attached to get water to the truck to fight the fire.

When hydrants are completely surrounded by snow or weeds and should an emergency arise, valuable time would be used by firemen in clearing a path to the hydrants.

Firefighters were delayed gaining access to a fire hydrant during a major fire on Southport Drive the day after the first large snow storm in February.

Firefighters assisted by the police department took valuable time to locate a buried fire hydrant and clear an area around the hydrant to connect the hoses.

Residents with a fire hydrant located in front of their home are asked to clean snow away from the hydrants when they clear their sidewalk or driveway and weeds around the hydrant when they trim their lawn.

When clearing snow in the winter or weeds, shrubbery

or flowers in the spring/summer months from the fire hydrant:

· Remove the snow from all connections on the hydrant. (Melting snow may freeze the connection).

· Clear the front of the hydrant in the direction of the street.

· Clear an area 2-3 feet away from the hydrant in all directions.