Public Enemy Number One: Buried Fire Hydrants

by Venessa Eisenman, TrumbullPatch.com

The snow can have a serious impact on safety in the town. Just ask Ed Gratrix, fire chief of the Trumbull Center volunteer department. In the past couple of weeks, three house fires were affected by buried fire hydrants.

“We had one delay from a buried fire hydrant,” says Gratrix. “With the other two, we were fortunate; we knew where they were, but we still had to some digging to access the hydrant.”

Any delay can be an issue for the people fighting fires. A minute or two of digging is not a huge issue because most engines carry a couple minutes of water, explains Gratrix. “A 5 to10 minute delay for a hydrant that is not visible is significant,” he insists.

There are currently 1,238 hydrants in the town of Trumbull. At this point, Gratrix believes that between 20 to 25 percent of hydrants are covered or obscured. The fire department simply cannot clear each one.

Gratrix stresses that it is all residents’ responsibility to clear them.

“Some people believe that just because the hydrant isn’t in front of their house, it’s not their concern. But really, about 10 people are responsible for one hydrant,” he said.

Some residents simply don’t know where their fire hydrants are. If that’s the case, they can come down to Trumbull Center and view the hydrant maps. “We would publish those maps right on the web, but Aquarium has propriety rights to that information.”

While buried hydrants are a huge safety risk, other snow-related problems can be avoided.

“Homeowners need to make sure that any outside power outlets are clear of snow and dripping ice,” insists Gratrix. “And any remaining holiday decorations need to be unplugged.”

If these are not done, an electrical short can occur. Also, if ice damming happens at your house, it’s really important to de-energize any circuits until the problem is rectified. Ice damming, or ice blocking roof drains, causes melting snow to sit on the roof and back up into the dwelling.

Gratrix anticipates another problem once the heavy rain comes: flooding due to blocked storm drains. “This is the time to clear those drains,” says Gratrix. “When that rain comes, there’s going to be problems.”

Yes, this weather is not fair. No, we did not choose to live in Minnesota for a reason. And even though we can’t catch a weather break this winter, it is still our responsibilities to keep our families and neighbors safe. So grab your shovels, residents of Trumbull – and get digging!