In an emergency, every second counts. Fire hydrants that are blocked, concealed or difficult to access due to snow or ice can impede emergency fire response.
“Seconds matter in a fire situation,” Wessington Springs Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jim Vavra reminds residents. “If wehavetodigahydrant out it takes valuable time and resources. Think of it this way, if a firefighter is scooping out a hydrant, he isn’t fighting fire.”
Vavra said it is important to clear a minimum of three feet around the hydrant to give the fire department room to work and to obtain quick access in case of a fire.
