Bowling Green residents are being reminded that in an emergency, every second counts. When shoveling driveways and sidewalks, residents are asked to remove the snow from around the fire hydrant common to your home or property. Clearing the snow around the hydrant and shoveling a path to it from the street will give the Fire Division the access it needs.
At a fire, the fire division must quickly locate and gain a water supply source from the closest fire hydrant. A fire engine carries enough water in its tank for approximately 5 1⁄2 minutes of firefighting. If a fire hydrant is buried by snow, it is difficult to find and valuable time must be spent digging it out.
Water is the main tool firefighters use to extinguish fires. Delays in locating and connecting to a fire hydrant could hamper fire suppression, thereby increasing the risk of injury and additional property damage.
Consider helping a friend, a neighbor with a medical condition, or a neighbor who is elderly by shoveling out the hydrant in front of their home.
