Warren Offers Free Service For Snow-Buried Fire Hydrants

The City of Warren has 6102 fire hydrants in the city, and, because of the heavy snowfall this season, many of those hydrants are buried.

Warren Mayor Jim Fouts is offering a free service by the city to “unbury” the hydrants for the elderly and disabled. The free service will be provided by the Fire Department personnel who will clear snow around the hydrant.

“Our fire department knows the location of each fire hydrant in our city but, if a hydrant is buried by snow, it takes time to find its exact location,” said Fouts. “A delay of minutes or seconds could save lives in case of a fire.”

Fouts advises those able to “unbury” a fire hydrant to do so as soon as possible, and those who hire a snow removal service to be sure to advise the service to “unbury” the hydrant as part of its service.

Fouts says that at least 50 percent of the hydrant should be visible from the street.

The mayor said a city ordinance prohibits “obstructing” a fire hydrant but, because of the number of “buried” hydrants, the ordinance would be impossible to enforce.

The phone number for the free service for those unable to “unbury” a hydrant is 586-756-2800.