Boston Fire Chief: DOT Standpipes, Hydrants Broken

Aug. 31, 2012
Boston Fire Chief Steve Abraira sent out a memo this week to all chiefs stating that many DOT water systems in the city are broken.

Firefighters battling vehicle blazes on Interstate 93 and near the convention center in South Boston will find themselves high-and-dry as crucial water pipes and hydrants are broken, the Herald has learned -- a dangerous discovery that has BFD brass on edge.

Boston Fire Chief Steve Abraira, the department's No. 2, sent out a memo this week to all chiefs warning them that standpipes that provide water for firefighters battling highway blazes are out of service on I-93 north of the Zakim Bridge. Also, there are at least 17 fire hydrants that don't work on Haul Road in South Boston, a state road that runs alongside the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.

"Many systems are in a state of disrepair," Abraira wrote in the memo, a copy of which was obtained by the Herald. "The Fire Commissioner's office is aware of this issue and is strongly encouraging the (state) to make serious improvements as soon as possible."

The busted fire protection systems were discovered during Boston Fire Department inspections of MassDOT-owned tunnels, roadways and bridges after broken standpipes were found earlier this summer on the Tobin Bridge. The Tobin problems -- first reported by the Herald -- have resulted in around-the-clock firefighter details on the aging bridge that already have cost $400,000 in overtime, officials said.

"We have identified a number of problems that MassDOT is working to repair," Fire Commissioner Roderick F. Fraser said in a statement to the Herald. "We have informed our fire chiefs of the issues and have taken precautions to be able to respond to and handle any incidents that may occur." He added that there was "no danger" to the public.

In addition to the out-of-service standpipes and hydrants, Abraira alerted chiefs to problems with signs and "access to fire suppression equipment" on several MassDOT properties, including Big Dig tunnels. He also called on chiefs to report "any defects" they find during calls.

BFD brass said jakes called to the affected roadways will respond in engines that carry up to 750 gallons of water. Firefighters will call in backup units as needed to battle bigger blazes, officials said.

MassDOT spokeswoman Sara Lavoie said a fire detail has been added to I-93 north of the Zakim and that a contractor has been brought in to make repairs in the Central Artery North Area tunnel. She said the Tobin system is functioning and that there are "no known issues" with systems in any other Big Dig tunnels. MassDOT still is reviewing the hydrant problem on Haul Road.

"Safety is our No. 1 priority," Lavoie said. "We appreciate the cooperative spirit of the fire department as we all work to ensure the availability of necessary resources to address potential fires in the tunnel system."

Copyright 2012 - Boston Herald

McClatchy-Tribune News Service

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