Homeowner’s responsible for clearing off fire hydrants

With snow piles forming and more precipitation headed towards into southeastern Idaho, it’s important for people to remember that, aside from driveways and sidewalks, fire hydrants also need your attention.

It is a homeowner’s responsibility to make sure the hydrant is not only visible but also accessible.

“So not only cleaning off the top of the hydrant but clearing a three-foot area around the hydrant, so that it can be accessed quickly if there’s a need for it,” Kim Stouse of the Pocatello Fire Department explained.

According to Stouse, most trucks only carry about “30 seconds worth of water,” and if a fire hydrant is not immediately available property and lives could be at risk.

Right now, Stouse believes many area hydrants are “caked” with snow. This is, in part, due to the fact that people may not realize it’s their responsibility to care for.

“I think a lot of times, it’s because we don’t think about it,” she said. “You may not even realize there’s one down around the corner, or next to your neighbor’s house. It’s because it’s not being used all the time, so I think it can be easily overlooked.”

Additionally, Stouse warned people not to park in front of any hydrants, “because in the event of a fire, if we had to, we could run a fire hose through there.”