Lake Tahoe area fire districts ask for help keeping fire hydrants clear of snow
Submitted by paula on Fri, 01/27/2023 - 6:24pm
With 4,097 fire hydrants in the Tahoe Basin, fire districts are asking for help keeping them dug out during winter so firefighters would have easy access in the event of a fire.
In Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District (TDFPD), their state law and fire code state it is the responsibility of the water provider who owns the hydrants to maintain clearance around them, free of snow, brush, and trees. TDFPD said it is a challenge getting the eight different water providers in Douglas County at the lake to help keep hydrants clear.
TDFPD said their firefighters are currently digging out the 800 hydrants in their district with the help of the Zephyr Fire Crew. So far this year, the firefighters have spent over one thousand man-hours digging hydrants.
As TDFPD work with water districts to address this issue and figure out a solution, they are asking for help from the public through their “Adopt-A-Hydrant” program. Locals can help maintain access to the fire hydrants in front of their homes or in their neighborhoods. TDFPD is currently reaching out to locals through social media.
The fire district has the locations of every hydrant and they can be pinpointed through i-pads on board their rigs, but with a lot of snow over the hydrants and big berms, the time it takes to get the hydrant clear hampers their ability to fight fires.
TDFPD sent the picture above that shows a hydrant that was dug out by its firefighters, only to have a snowplow come by and put a berm in front of it, followed by a blower that covered it.
South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue and Lake Valley Fire also encourage members of the public to dig out fire hydrants, called "Hydrant Heros." SLTFR has a Facebook contest going on and asks those Hydrant Heros in its district to share the photos and then stop by for a free mug.
The Tahoe Fund is running a campaign asking for the public to "Adopt A Hydrant" near their home or office. They have created their famous Take Care to highlight the efforts (see above and visit HERE).
Al Tahoe neighborhood resident Jay Brazil has adopted dozens of fire hydrants in his area. Several other residents have adopted others in this challenging season. Everyone can help make our community safer.