Winter weather woes
Residents are asked to remove snow 3 feet around fire hydrants in their neighborhoods so that emergency responders have access to them. This photo taken on Wednesday of a dug-out hydrant in a berm in the Garwood area is an example shared by Northern Lakes Fire. (Photo courtesy of Northern Lakes Fire)
By BRIAN WALKER
Staff Writer
The snow that’s piled up in Kootenai County this month is wreaking havoc on properties and emergency access.
Several broken pipes and sprinkler systems have resulted from the freeze-thaw cycles, and the snow and snow berms have buried fire hydrants that are critical for emergency response.
Jim Lyon, Northern Lakes Fire District spokesman, said the fire at a manufactured home in the Rathdrum area last weekend resulted from a resident attempting to thaw pipes under the structure with a small torch.
"It happens almost every year," he said of such fires. "We ask that people call a professional or a plumber to assist with frozen pipes."
Lyon said flames under homes are dangerous, especially if insulation, spray foam, debris and cardboard boxes are in the tight quarters.
"A lot of items can catch fire and you're usually not in a position to put it out if it spreads," he said.
Lyon said if residents still perform the work themselves, extreme caution with a fire extinguisher close by is advised.
Citing another common danger that arrives with winter weather, Chris Larson, Northern Lakes deputy fire marshal, said exhaust from generators should be kept away from openings into homes.
"If fumes go into the living space, they can fill it with carbon monoxide," he said.
Jim Monroe, of Intermountain Security that monitors alarm systems, said his firm heard of five broken pipes within an hour during the recent cold snap.
"Some are related to the freeze-thaw, some were due to to poor construction or maintenance," he said.
Monroe said property owners should be aware that this is prime pipe-breaking season and regularly check the temperature in rooms that require heating.
Concern about limited emergency access to hydrants and properties has risen to the forefront with the heavy snowfall and berms caused by road crews. Residents are asked to do their part and clear hydrants in their neighborhoods and assist their neighbors who are elderly or disabled.
"It's understandable if folks can barely keep up with their own driveway, but if the weather breaks, consider helping dig out hydrants," Lyon said, adding that it is a homeowner’s responsibility to do so, just like keeping sidewalks clear.
Hydrants should have a 3-foot radius that has been cleared of snow.
If you travel during the winter, Lyon said it is advised that residents still have their driveways maintained, especially if it is long, to ensure emergency access if a fire occurs.
Lyon cautioned that children sliding down berms into roadways or digging tunnels into them can be dangerous, especially if plow drivers can't see the kids.
The weather has also caused some outages.
Frontier Communications crews responded on Wednesday to repair fiber optic cable damaged when a plow cut a line near Prairie Avenue and McGuire Road in the Post Falls area, said Javier Mendoza, Frontier spokesman.
Crews worked until 10 p.m. and ceased work for safety reasons, but service was later restored, he said.
No collapsed roofs due to heavy snowloads have been reported, however. Much of the recent snow has not been wet and heavy.
"With the amount of snow we have received, I don't believe we're at that point yet (to having to shovel snow off roofs)," said Shawn Riley, Kootenai County's building and grounds director.
Roof types vary on the amount of snow they can handle. Moisture content and ice are also factors.
The city of Coeur d'Alene does not make recommendations on when to remove snow from roofs.
"It is up to the individual property owner to consider the benefits and dangers of snow removal and decide their own course of actions," according to a city statement.
"Remember that, as a rule of thumb, saturated snow weighs about 20 pounds per cubic square foot and then consider the depth and relative moisture content of your snow and the capacity of your roof structure in making your decision to remove snow or not."
Structures constructed in Coeur d'Alene with a building permit are designed for 40 pounds per square foot minimum roof snowload. Many manufactured homes, however, are designed for a snowload of 30 pounds per square foot.
Residents should move vehicles out of roadways, if possible, during snowstorms so plows can do a better job of clearing streets.