We need YOUR help to make Howard County safer when it snows!
In the winter, fire hydrants often become covered by snowfall and/or plowing operations. In an emergency, every second counts. When a hydrant is blocked, hidden, or hard to find due to snow and ice, it slows down the fire department’s response.
Fire engines carry a limited amount of water, only enough for the first few minutes of the initial fire attack. When firefighters can’t find a hydrant due to snow, it costs time, which could make the difference between someone living or dying. That’s why we need YOUR help.
How to Adopt a Hydrant
By adopting a hydrant in your community, you’re making the county safer for everyone. Through the “adoption process,” you’ll agree to do your best to make sure that a hydrant in your community is clear and visible for first responders, particularly when it snows.
You’ll need to clear a three-foot area around the hydrant to make sure firefighters can both see and quickly access the hydrant, along with a small cleared pathway from the hydrant to the street.
Adopt a Hydrant in Howard County
Rules
- All fire hydrants are the property of the Howard County Bureau of Utilities. Do not paint, personalize or change the appearance of the fire hydrant!
- Be careful when clearing around the hydrant, including remaining cautious of vehicle traffic nearby.
- Do not stand in the street and be careful not to slip and fall out into the roadway.