Clearing space for safety
Cheney Fire asks residents to keep fire hydrants, household vents, clear of snow
Last updated 1/5/2017 at 11:21am
Cheney Fire Department officials are advising residents to not pile snow around fire hydrants and residential vents when they clear their sidewalks, driveways and other areas.
"Fire hydrants should also be kept uncovered in case of an emergency," Cheney Battalion Chief Ken Johnson said in an email, quoting instructions from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). "If they are covered in snow, it makes it difficult for emergency responders to access them."
In an email, Johnson said that residents should make sure to clear snow and ice from within 3 feet of fire hydrants. According to a Boston Globe article in 2015 referenced by the NFPA, a hydrant needs about a foot of space below its valve, and another two feet of space all around it. This space allows firefighters to attach hoses to the valve and rotate the hydrant wrench.
Lieutenant Kevin Jordan of the Boston Fire Department explained to the Globe that a fire engine holds about two to five minutes' worth of water. When that is used up, hydrants become indispensable since each passing second allows a fire to grow.
The NFPA noted that, while in many parts of the country property owners are legally obligated to clear snow from their sidewalks, no such requirements exist for fire hydrants.
A check of Cheney's municipal code only revealed requirements regarding keeping streets clear of vehicles during snow events, and prohibiting depositing of snow from private property onto the public right of way.
Johnson said the same recommendations for clearing snow from around fire hydrants applies to water, electrical and natural gas meters. He added that several home appliances, such as furnaces and water heaters, vent gases outside to keep people inside homes from breathing them.
"Keeping vents free of snow allows appliances to operate safely and efficiently," Johnson said.
John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.
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