ROCHELLE – Keeping snow away from fire hydrants is critical for keeping everyone in the community safe during an emergency. When there’s a fire, firefighters need to get to hydrants fast, and piles of snow could slow them down.
Lt. Joshua Lewis, Firefighter and Paramedic with the Rochelle Fire Department, notes that the public can help by clearing away some space around the hydrant.
“We like about 3’ all the way around the hydrant,” Lewis said, “that gives us room to work, to flush the hydrant, to remove caps, to open and close valves, and then hook up the hoses to the truck.”
Snow, especially heavy snow, can make battling a blaze difficult.
“Walking through yards in deep snow, pulling hose lines, plus trip hazards, and the challenges of finding hydrants and clearing pathways adds a lot of challenges.” said Lewis.
