ST. PAUL - St. Paul Fire Services is asking residents who are able to help clear snow around fire hydrants to do so - or contact the fire department if they notice a hydrant buried in snow that they cannot clear.
Although there is no "rule" around property owners having to remove snow from hydrants, Fire Chief Trevor Kotowich, who is also the Town's Director of Protective Services, Fire, and Emergency Management, acknowledges that "it certainly would be a big help and kind gesture" if residents did clear the snow.
With over 200 hydrants within the Town of St. Paul, and Public Works staff "literally working on the streets day and night," some of the hydrants do get missed, says Kotowich.
But, there is also absolutely no issue with residents contacting Fire Services about hydrants that are blocked.
"If (residents) can’t do it, we certainly can. It will save precious minutes in the event of an emergency if these are cleared before a fire," says the fire chief.
