Fire Department: Keep Fire Hydrants Visible in Snow

To keep your neighborhood safe in bad weather, make sure firefighters have access to fire hydrants.

As the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area prepares for one of the biggest snowstorms of the year, the Prince William County Department of Fire & Rescue reminds residents that when there’s a fire, firefighters need to be able to quickly locate fire hydrants, or lives and property could be lost.

The Fire Marshal’s Office urges all residents and community groups to do the following to help keep their neighbors safe during inclement weather:

• Make sure the hydrant in your neighborhood is visible. Adopt your fire hydrant. It needs to be uncovered from snow and there needs to be a clear path for access. Should extreme weather prevail, resulting in a snow-covered fire hydrant:

1. Attempt to remove the snow from around the hydrant;
2. If you’re unable to do so, place 4-foot-long orange-tipped stakes near the hydrants;
3. Or spray paint the word, “Fire Hydrant” in large letters on the snow directly in front of the fire hydrant.

• Make sure your address is visible. Fire and Rescue responders use maps to get them to the area, but they need to be able to see house numbers to ensure they are at the correct location.
• Make sure you have at least two clear exits out of your house. Keep an eye on snow buildup. When the snow melts and refreezes, it could prevent you from being able to open the door and exit from your house.
• Clear the areas around emergency exits to ensure customers can exit safely in an emergency.

By doing these things, you will help keep response times as low as possible under these challenging conditions.

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