Fire officials recommend cleaning fire hydrants and vents
BANGOR — Following Monday’s storm, many residents were out cleaning their driveway and sidewalks. However, fire hydrants in many municipalities are still covered in snow.
Orrington Fire and Rescue Lieutenant Chris Strout says cleaning fire hydrants is a town or city’s responsibility, but is asking residents to help if they can.
“It’s pretty important to have the fire hydrants cleaned out because in an emergency, time matters. So if we have to spend time cleaning out the fire hydrants in order to get water supply,” said Strout.
Strout encourages joining the nationwide Adopt-A-Hydrant program in an effort to help keep fire hydrants clean in your neighborhood.
“We like to do what we call the adopt a fire hydrant program, which would be if you live near a fire hydrant, when you’re out doing your normal snow removal, you take the extra five, 10 minutes it takes to shovel around the hydrant,” says Strout.
Bangor Fire Department’s Assistant Fire Chief Andrew Emery also suggest cleaning out the vents at your house whenever possible.
“Carbon monoxide can build up can come into the building and can cause a dryer to overheat, not being venting properly and get a couple dryer fires out of it. It’s known as a silent killer because you can’t see it, you can’t smell it, you can’t taste it,” said Emery.
Both fire chiefs say keeping these fixtures clean is imperative to safety.
“Make sure it’s a nice path from the road from the hydrant, a couple feet wide and then you just take that area all the way around the hydrant,” said Strout.
Bangor Water District told us that they will start cleaning fire hydrants Wednesday. In the meantime, they say any help is much appreciated.
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