CLEAR YOUR FIRE HYDRANT

Simple Clearing of Snow Saves Firefighters Valuable Time and May Save Lives

Southeastern Michigan has experienced heavy snowfalls early this year and area Fire Departments are asking for your help. “We can’t do our job if we can’t locate a hydrant, and that puts people’s lives at risk,” says Lieutenant Denny Hughes, a fire safety educator with the Farmington Hills Fire Department.

Whether you’re a homeowner, business owner or snow removal company, Hughes asks everyone to do their part in assuring that fire hydrants are visible to responding fire tucks. “Some contractors have nowhere to put the snow after a large snowfall,” says Hughes. “But they need to be conscious about not piling it up on or around a fire hydrant.”

Homeowners and business owners are asked to shovel a clear path to the hydrant from the road, and assure that snow is also cleared at least one to two feet around the hydrant. It also helps if you take a broom and remove the snow buildup on the hydrant itself and clear the snow from any landscaping around the hydrant.

“Remember -- if firefighters can’t see the hydrant, they can’t use it,” says Hughes. For more information, contact Lt. Denny Hughes at 248-871-2800 or dhughes@fhgov.com.