North 48 VFD encourages cleanup
The North 48 Fire Department has began a campaign to encourage residents to clear brush around fire hydrants.
In a recent social media post, department leadership said during the water issues in mid-June firefighters found several hydrants hidden by overgrown vegetation. Following this discovery, the North 48 members have began asking residents to keep fire hydrants visible by clearing grass and brush around them.
To encourage participation North 48 department members invited residents to share before and after photos of cleared hydrants as well as the hydrant location on the department’s social media page for a chance to win a gift card.
The department recommends keeping about 20 feet of clearance around hydrants whenever possible. Doing so helps firefighters locate hydrants more quickly during emergencies, reduces the risk of accidental damage, and makes it easier to spot maintenance issues. Leadership said this initiative is expected to improve access in emergency situations as well as promote Fire Wise behavior.