Elderly Waukesha Couple Asking For Fire Hydrant Help

WAUKESHA, WI -- A shoveled-out fire hydrant is a welcome sign to firefighters who respond to the scene of a fire.

An elderly Waukesha couple says they've been digging out the hydrant in their neighborhood on Erin Lane for nearly 30 years and would love to get some help with the task.

"My husband is 76 and had open heart surgery this year so I've told the neighbors we will not be shoveling the hydrant anymore. We've done it for more than 28 years," the elderly resident told Waukesha Patch. "Fire hydrants are not just for the property, they are for the entire neighborhood, and should be a joint effort keeping them clean."

Although local fire departments stress the importance of digging out hydrants, some departments fall on additionally hard times during a crisis.

Earlier this winter, fire officials in Greendale say that fire hydrants buried under snow banks made it harder for first responders to get the water supply they needed to battle a blaze on Greenmeadow Lane last week.

According to Greendale Fire Department officials, first responders were called to a home on the 8800 block of Greenmeadow Lane just after 1 p.m. on Jan. 31.

When fire fighters arrived at the scene, they saw smoking coming from the back of the house, and when they entered, they found fire coming from the wall above the fireplace with flames extending into the attic space and the exterior of the house.

The Greendale Fire Department said their firefighters were able to battle the fire until they ran out of water due to a delay in getting a water supply. The hydrants in the area were all buried under snow banks. The fire was under control within 30 minutes.

Submitted Photo, Published With Permission