Local firefighters are urging residents and merchants to remove snow and ice from the fire hydrants located near their homes or businesses for easier use of the hydrant in case of a fire. Residents are requested to shovel a wide circle completely around the hydrant and clear a path from the street to the hydrant.
In a fire department demonstration it took three firefighters approximately four minutes to sufficiently clear a hydrant to allow the fire hoses to be connected. In case of an emergency, every minute saved by having the hydrant already cleared is important.
The firefighters are stressing that "a few minutes now can save property and lives later."