In Sandy, Utah, local authorities are asking residents to help dig out around fire hydrants in their neighborhoods. This request comes after a storm Monday covered 90 percent of the city’s 4500 hydrants.
The problem is when firefighters arrive at an emergency, such as a house fire, and can’t find a hydrant, it takes an extra two minutes to dig it out.
“(That’s) huge. Those two or three minutes, we could be fighting a fire,” said Sandy Fire spokesman Zach Robinson. “I can’t stress enough that seconds count so much. If we could use that extra two to three minutes to fight the fire rather than find a hydrant.”
Local firefighters have been clearing as many hydrants as possible. However, based on the sheer numbers, they are asking residents for help.
Sandy is not the only town with similar issues. Everyone should heed this request in locations where snow can pose a problem in the event of a fire.
On the web: Deseret Morning News, National Fire Protection Association
Note: Photo courtesy Deseret Morning News
Tags: fire preparedness, Sandy Utah
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