Fire Department Asking Chicagoans To "Adopt" Hydrants And Clear Snow
CHICAGO (CBS) -- With snow piled high on many parkways in the city, the Chicago Fire Department has asked residents to give firefighters a helping hand, by digging out hydrants on their blocks.
Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford said firefighters have been going out as a regular part of their duties this week, and shoveling around hydrants, so they'll be clear of snow when needed.
He said Chicagoans can help, too, by "adopting" a hydrant, and clearing away the snow if that hasn't been done yet.
"Some of them are tall, but some are very short, and they're easily hidden by the snow, so dig one out. Dig an area about a foot around it, so the firefighters can get to it, and hook up," he said. "Just make sure that the hydrant is dug out so that we can see it when fire personnel arrive, in case of an emergency."
Langford said parking might be at a premium in your neighborhood, but that doesn't mean you should park in front of a hydrant, even if it's the only space cleared of snow on your block.
"It's bad enough when these hydrants are covered with snow, and every now and then we'll get one that's frozen. We need all the access we can get," he said.