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There is a new and fun reason to clear snow away from fire hydrants. The Duluth Fire Department has launched an "Adopt a Hydrant" program this winter to keep hydrants clear from snow.
The fire department is asking residents to adopt a hydrant in their neighborhood, name it and send in photos after each snowfall for a chance to win a "Duluth Prize Pack" at the end of the winter as a thank-you. Residents are asked to clear a 3-foot perimeter around the hydrant. Photos can be emailed to kvandaele@duluthmn.gov .
“The response so far has been great,” Fire Chief Shawn Krizaj said. “We respond to a lot of fires during the winter months. Every second matters, and delaying our fire attack to clear a hydrant can really put us at a disadvantage. To pull up to a hydrant that is already shoveled and ready for us to use makes a huge difference as opposed to the times that we arrive and have to spend time removing snow to access a water line.”
So far, residents from across Duluth have submitted photos of cleared hydrants with names such as "Sergeant Stage" in the Fond du Lac neighborhood. Others have noted hydrants they adopted years ago.
“To see residents taking their time to adopt a hydrant and take ownership of it in the case that a fire could happen to them or a neighbor means a lot,” Krizaj said. “It shows the care that neighbors have for neighbors with one small act of kindness. It is greatly appreciated and really fun to see the pictures and the names that people come up with.”
