Residents urged to clear snow from hydrants

With around two feet of snow having fallen upon New Rockford in December, the city is asking residents to help keep fire hydrants clear of snow.

Should an emergency occur and a fire hydrant is urgently needed, precious time could be wasted clearing snow if fire hydrants are not properly cleared and ready for use.

The City of New Rockford and New Rockford Fire Department are encouraging residents to help out each time it snows this winter by clearing a path in front of the hydrant to the street and by clearing a three-foot radius around the hydrant itself.

NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) code states that fire hydrants should remain unobstructed at all times to ensure that firefighters always have access to them.

Helping clear a hydrant only takes a few minutes, and would ensure firefighters have easy access in case of an emergency, potentially saving lives.

However, if not taken care of in a timely fashion, what would otherwise take only a few minutes could become an arduous task. If the snow melts and refreezes, firefighters could be forced to waste even more precious time clearing the hydrant.

New Rockford fire hydrants have reflector flags on them which should help with locating them following heavy snow falls.

Helping ensure fire hydrants remain clear is always crucial, but is especially so during the winter months. By acting proactively to remove snow from the city’s hydrants, residents can help ensure themselves and their neighbors remain safe this winter.

It’s also important this winter to make sure sewer vents remain clear. Lots of snow and/or extremely cold weather can clog a sewer vent and potentially lead to sewer gas backup, which can make you or your family ill.