A shovel, a hydrant, and a few minutes can make a difference
When snow piles up, fire hydrants can disappear into icy camouflage. In an emergency, that hidden hydrant can cost firefighters precious minutes. Fire Department of Montgomery Township is asking residents to help solve that problem through its Adopt-A-Hydrant program.
A simple way to help in an emergency
FDMT is encouraging neighbors to “adopt” a hydrant near their home or business and keep it clear after winter storms. The commitment is straightforward:
Fire officials stress that crews cannot use what they cannot reach. A working fire can double in size in about 20 seconds, and digging out a buried hydrant can take several minutes. Those lost minutes can make a major difference for both property and lives.
Powered by the township’s new GIS tools
The program is easier to join thanks to the township’s new mapping technology. Through a web-based map highlighted in the township’s video series “The GISt,” residents can locate hydrants near their address and see which ones still need a volunteer.
The tool was developed as part of the township’s expanded use of Geographic Information Systems, or GIS, which helps local officials manage assets, share public information and improve emergency response planning.
The hydrant adoption map allows residents to search their address, click on an available hydrant and submit their information to claim it.
Township officials say the same GIS platform also supports other public tools, including service request reporting, park maps, zoning lookups and snow emergency road information.
A small task with a big impact
Local fire departments recently reminded residents that hydrants near some emergency scenes were still buried under snow, forcing firefighters to spend time clearing them before they could be used. Even when a hydrant ends up not being needed, crews must prepare it just in case conditions change.
Officials say the Adopt-A-Hydrant program turns that preparation into a community effort.
Residents can sign up through the Fire Department section of the township website and use the interactive map to find a hydrant nearby that still needs adopting. Once claimed, volunteers are asked to clear it after each snowfall throughout the winter.
In short, a few minutes with a shovel on a cold day could save far more than time when it matters most.
