Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Take a look at the fire hydrants close to your home and business. Do they look more like the picture on the left, or the right?
If a fire hydrant is covered with snow, like the one shown on the left, it is hard for volunteer firefighters to provide service should a fire break out.
The City of New Rockford and the New Rockford Fire Department ask that residents consider adopting a fire hydrant this winter. Each time it snows, clear a path in front to the street and a three-foot radius around the hydrant to ensure that firefighters can easily and quickly put the hydrant to use during a fire.
It only takes a few minutes, and it could literally save lives.
According to National Fire Protection Association code, NFPA 1 18.5.7.1, a 36-inch clear space must be maintained around the circumference of fire hydrants, except as otherwise required or approved.
Fire hydrant snow removal should occur as soon as possible after it snows to avoid obstructing fire hydrants. NFPA code states that fire hydrants should remain unobstructed at all times to ensure that firefighters always have access to them.
Waiting too long can turn a minor inconvenience into a daunting task. If the snow melts and refreezes, the snow will be harder to remove. During and after major storms that dump several inches of snow, locating fire hydrants can be extremely difficult. While New Rockford's fire hydrants have reflector flags on them to make locating them easier in the event of inclement weather, the flags are no substitute for keeping the area around the hydrants clear.
Ensuring firefighters have access to fire hydrants at any time of the year is crucial, but it can be a challenge in the winter. By taking a proactive approach to fire hydrant snow removal, you can help to ensure that they'll remain unobstructed by snow.
