Indy FFs Help Look for Frozen Hydrants
INDIANAPOLIS --
Indianapolis firefighters will join in the effort to spot frozen hydrants before they become a problem on the job.
Veolia Water Company, which is responsible for maintaining the city's 36,000 hydrants, has 12 hydrant specialists on staff, and has made one available to firefighters 24 hours a day during the current cold snap, 6News' Derrik Thomas reported.
Beginning on Thursday, firefighters will also be responsible for visually inspecting hydrants they encounter on runs.
"(They will) look at the hydrant to make sure nothing is amiss, make sure it is sitting up straight, make sure it hasn't been knocked off its base, make sure there aren't icicles hanging off the hydrant," said Capt. Rita Reith.
Already this week, a lack of water supply has delayed fighting two major blazes -- one Monday that destroyed the Texas Roadhouse restaurant in the 1400 block of North Shadeland Avenue , where three hydrants were found to be frozen, and another Tuesday night that consumed three businesses in the 4800 block of East Michigan Street.
Veolia officials said they're grateful for the firefighters' help.
"We understand it's a matter of public safety, and it has to be a partnership with both of us working together to accomplish the end result, which is hydrants that work and are reliable," said spokesman Paul Whitmore.
Veolia crews have already begun the process of inspecting 4,200 so-called slow-draining hydrants.
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