Adopt, dig out a fire hydrant

Looking for an excuse to get out of the house? How about if it increases fire safety in your neighborhood in the process?

Still not interested? How about if it could save property or even your life?

Local fire agencies are asking residents to do their part by "adopting" a fire hydrant near their home and shoveling it clear of snow in case of an emergency.

"Fire hydrants are often overlooked when clearing snow," said Dan Ryan, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue division chief. "We are asking that if you have a hydrant on or near your property to please clear the snow away. When there is a fire and responders need to connect to a hydrant, every second counts — and we could lose precious time trying to dig a hydrant out of the snow."

Ryan said 3 feet of clearance from the hydrant is needed.

Firefighters say they realize the snow may be too hard to remove and that not everyone who has a hydrant in or near their yard is capable of shoveling.

"We would like to extend the invitation a little further to neighbors helping neighbors," he said. "You never know who may benefit from crews being able to rapidly access the hydrant. If it can’t be done because it is too hard-packed, we understand."

Ryan said with cold temperatures predicted, the snow will likely be here for awhile. He said this is the first year since 2008 where snow-covered hydrants have been an issue.

Craig Etherton of Coeur d'Alene Fire said every year his agency asks residents to adopt a hydrant. The department praises the efforts by posting great examples on social media.

"Fire hydrants are critical in the event of a fire to supply water in addition to the small amount that we carry in our fire engines," Etherton said. "In the moments that it could take to find and dig out a fire hydrant which is buried in the snow, fires can double in size with each minute that passes."

Jim Lyon of Northern Lakes — which serves Rathdrum, Hayden and Twin Lakes — said multiple neighbors can come together to determine who will be responsible for their closest hydrant after every snowfall.

"Fires often happen when it's dark or in inclement weather so anything that citizens can do to help firefighters locate and connect to hydrants is of great help," he said.

Lyon also urged residents and businesses to clear all doors of snow, not just the one most frequently used.

"In the case of a fire where occupants may need to exit quickly, a blocked doorway or exit path could be catastrophic," he said.