During a fire it is critical for first responders to connect a fire hose to a hydrant to extinguish flames in a timely fashion. However, during the winter, hydrants are often neglected and become buried under a pile of snow which becomes a danger to the community. The Hicksville Water District and Hicksville Fire Department encourage individuals, families, businesses and community groups to ‘Adopt a Hydrant’ to regularly maintain and help firefighters quickly access during an emergency.
“The Town of Hicksville strives to keep fire hydrants clear at all times but it’s a difficult task come winter,” said Hicksville Fire Commissioner John Menig. “What people may not know is that a fire doubles in size every single minute. It’s vital that first responders have easy access to hydrants to do their job and respond in an emergency situation.”
Residents can “adopt” a nearby fire hydrant and pledge responsibility for reporting issues and making it easy for firefighters and watersystem staff to locate and access the hydrant, especially in an emergency. Adopting a hydrant in most cases will take little effort to maintain and can really make a difference in keeping the community safe. Clearing approximately three feet around the hydrants will give firefighters plenty of room in case of a fire and help them to locate it in bad weather conditions.
“Most of us have that fire hydrant right near our home or business we pass all the time,” added Commissioner William Schuckmann. “We’re encouraging residents to take just a few moments to clear the snow around the hydrant.”
