Clear Your Hydrant!

After answering more than 50 calls during the blizzard last weekend that left three feet of ice and snow on Madison, the volunteer firefighters from Madison Hose Co. No. 1 were out this weekend, clearing hydrants. 

There are about 300 hydrants in town.

It's important that all hydrants be cleared, so that if the hydrant is needed, firefighters will not have to waste precious minutes clearing it during an emergency. 

Make sure the hydrant is visible, there is a path, and an area around it

Make sure the hydrant is visible, and that there is a clear path to the hydrant. Clear an area around the hydrant, up to several feet if possible, enough space to give the volunteers room to work with it if they need it. 

Madison Hose Co. No. 1 Chief Bob Kyttle was working as part of a team with Captain Chris Yenco, and Lt. Jeff Young at the corner of East Wharf and Madison Avenue Sunday morning. Kyttle said people with hydrants on their property should clear their own, if at all possible, to expedite the process. 

"It'd be great if people could do their own. And if they can't do it, ask a neighbor. This helps us help them," he said. "We're all volunteers and we're doing the best we can." 

Make sure you have the right equipment

The weather Monday is supposed to be 31 degrees and sunny, which is positively balmy compared to Sunday. The kids are off from school, send them out to do it, if they are looking for something to do. Make sure you have the right equipment. With all of the hard-packed snow and ice, you'll need a sturdy shovel or spade.

If you don't have one that will stand up to the ice, True Value Hardware at 85 Bradley Road opens at 7 a.m. If you want to call first to see what they have in stock, the number is (203) 245-0414.

Page Hardware, in Guilford, also has shovels in stock. They are located at 9 Boston Street, right next to the Guilford town green, and they open at 7:30 a.m. Their phone number is (203) 453-5267.