February 4, 2015, Canton, MI – The Canton Fire Department is reminding the community of Canton’s ordinance requiring three feet (3’) of unobstructed access around all fire hydrants. This includes snow that has accumulated or piled up and is blocking hydrant access for firefighters.
“It’s imperative that crews arriving on the scene of a fire are able to immediately establish a connection to the nearest hydrant—so, not only does the hydrant need to be visible, it needs to be accessible,” says Fire Chief Joshua Meier. “A delay in hooking our hose lines up to the hydrant creates a delay in fighting the residential or commercial fire,” Meier adds.
Homeowner associations are encouraged to assist with clearing snow from hydrants in their neighborhoods, if necessary. Elderly residents or residents with a medical condition can request assistance with this task by contacting the Department of Public Works at 734/397-1011.
###