Latest news with #firehydrants
CBS News
2 days ago
- General
- CBS News
A fire destroyed a Harmar Township home. Residents say it could have been saved if the neighborhood had fire hydrants.
After flames tore through a Harmar Township home, fear has set in among neighbors due to the absence of fire hydrants. Neighbors in this community believe one home would not have been a total loss if there were fire hydrants in this neighborhood. "The first thing the police asked me was, 'Where are the fire hydrants?'" Christy Gaul recalled. Gaul has lived in a tucked-away community situated along the Allegheny River in Harmar Township since 2010. She moved here for the amenities, beautiful views of the river and the waterfront access. But what it doesn't have, she says, is concerning: zero fire hydrants. "We have all been discussing this as a neighborhood that we don't have them and we were concerned," she said. Exactly what Gaul and her neighbors feared took place early Saturday morning. A home on Werner Camp Road caught fire, forcing firefighters to shut down Freeport Road and an active set of railroad tracks so the closest fire hydrants near Target could be accessed. "If the firefighters [hadn't gotten] here soon enough, we could have all, I mean, there's a car right there, it could have exploded, we could've all been gone," Gaul said. Why aren't there any fire hydrants? KDKA-TV was told by the property owner, Evergreen Werner Hancock, that there are no requirements for fire hydrants. Werner Camp homeowners lease their land from Evergreen. The company acquired the property in 2020. They say they were never notified by the township that hydrants were required, even though they knew there weren't any. In a statement to KDKA-TV, the company says, in part: "After the fire this week, we contacted Harmar Township, and they informed us that the township suggested the idea of installing fire hydrants to the prior owners, but they chose not to install them. We have reached out to the Oakmont Water Authority about installing hydrants. When we get information, we will work with Oakmont Water Authority and Hammer Township about the possibility of installing hydrants." Until that happens, Gaul says she's still going to worry every time she goes to bed at night that she's going to be awakened again by the sound of emergency sirens and the smell of smoke. Only, that time, she says, it may be her home. "After seeing that, it was horrible, it was horrible," Gaul said. Officials have not released the cause of the fire. KDKA-TV reached out to the township for comment on the lack of fire hydrants and is waiting to hear back.
CTV News
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Enjoy the small moments: B.C. woman spreads positivity reviewing hundreds of fire hydrants
Although Sadie Morey can't remember the first fire hydrant she paused to appreciate, she can't forget to notice them now. 'I get a little thrill every time I find a hydrant,' Sadie says before pointing to the rounded top of a red one. 'This is the shape I like.' Sadie's keen interest in fire hydrants began when she happened to see one without a round top. 'I thought it was unjust that they didn't have hats,' Sadie says. 'I wanted to know why they didn't have hats.' So, Sadie started doing research, discovered they weren't missing 'hats' and that they just had different shaped bonnets. She spent the next couple weeks sending countless pictures of the various hydrants she happened upon to her best friend Renee Fournel. 'It became a hyper fixation for her that I was not on the same page with,' Renee smiles. 'But I was being a supportive friend.' So, Renee encouraged Sadie to start sharing her fire hydrant finds on social media. Sadie launched a couple of social media accounts using the name Hydrant Girl, and began posting videos reviewing the hydrants she saw. 'I try to keep a blank mind until I get up there,' Sadie says as she approaches a hydrant. 'So, I can give it a purely in-the-moment review.' Sadie – who co-owns a hair salon with Renee – assesses the aesthetics of each hydrant and records her comments on qualities, ranging from design, to paint condition, to adornments. 'My favourite thing about these is they have four stem nuts,' Sadie says about a blue and white hydrant. 'Keep going nature,' Sadie says when spotting a hydrant being enveloped by tall grass and vines. 'You reclaim that hydrant!' 'If he were an adult man,' Sadie comments on a hydrant that appears to be wearing a monocle. 'He would have a tweed suit and a moustache.' After almost a year, Sadie says she has reviewed more than 250 hydrants and counting. 'There's only so many hydrant shapes,' Sadie says. 'So, we got to spice it up a little.' So now Sadie sometimes wears a red fire hydrant costume while filming her critiques. 'Ten out of ten!' Sadie gives a thumbs up in her full body costume. 'I've never seen a hydrant with a green top in this neighbourhood.' Sadie's Hydrant Girl reviews have inspired a quirky community of fans that includes actual fire fighters and more than a couple of city workers – who recently reached out about a hydrant at the end of its life. 'We're replacing it tomorrow,' Renee recalls a city worker messaging Sadie. 'You should come by and say 'hi'. We're all huge fans.' When Sadie did, they gave her the decommissioned hydrant as a gift. While it's currently being kept in her apartment, Renee has agreed for it to have a permanent home in their salon. 'It's brought a lot of fun into my life,' Sadie says of her hydrant hobby. 'And a lot of laughter.' And while it's said we should take the time to stop and smell the roses, Sadie is also inviting us to pause and appreciate the potential of a fire hydrant to extinguish negativity. 'Enjoy the small moments,' Renee smiles. 'And find pleasure and goodness in the little day-to-day things in our lives.'
CBS News
26-06-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Open hydrants across NYC causing discolored water, low water pressure in homes, DEP says
With the recent heat wave, many are people are using fire hydrants to cool off, however the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is warning people not to. The DEP said their warning is not only for safety concerns, but because of the impact it can have on the water in your home. Beth DeFalco, deputy commissioner at the New York Department of Environmental Protection, says record numbers of open hydrants are causing a widespread issue among the boroughs with discolored water and low water pressure. "We saw almost a near record use of open hydrants and water flow. Probably the highest use that we've seen in at least a decade, if not more. It can cause brown water issues if you disturb some of the sediments because you're not using the right tools and opening it correctly. So that's another thing that we're concerned about. But the biggest concern that we're seeing right now is low water pressure," DeFalco explained. 1,000 gallons of water per minute The DEP is encouraging people to reach out to a local fire department and get the correct sprinkler head. DeFalco said firefighters will install the sprinkler heads for free, and the sprinkler heads will also help cut down on the amount of wasted water. "So an open hydrant that doesn't have a cap on it uses about a thousand gallons per minute of water. A hydrant that's got a cap on it uses about 25 gallons per minute. So yesterday we saw, you know, upwards of a million gallons a day," DeFalco said. Valerie McCray said there have been open hydrants in her Bronx neighborhood. "Yesterday was 20 kids, about 25 kids in that water. Today there's nobody. Look at him. He washing his car. That's the only thing they're doing," said McCray. McCray, who lives near one of the opened hydrants, noticed a difference with the water flowing out of her toilet and faucets. "Right now is not discolored but is so low you can't even wash the dishes," McCray said. According to the DEP, illegally opening a fire hydrant can result in fines of up to $1,000, imprisonment for up to 30 days or both. If you see a fire hydrant illegally open you are encouraged to call 311 immediately. Click here to learn more about the DEP warning about illegally opening fire hydrants. You can email Erica with Bronx story ideas by CLICKING HERE.
CBS News
26-06-2025
- General
- CBS News
Dry hydrants hinder firefighters at Washington County house fire
Family figuring out what to do next after fire destroys home Family figuring out what to do next after fire destroys home Family figuring out what to do next after fire destroys home Firefighters in Canton Township, Washington County, faced extreme heat and dry fire hydrants on Wednesday, as they worked to put out a blaze that destroyed a home on Best Avenue inside the Town and Country Estates mobile home community. The lack of working hydrants forced crews to have to tank in water, South Strabane Township Fire and Emergency Services Chief Jordan Cramer said. They have faced similar issues fighting fires inside the community over the past three years. "That's difficult," Cramer said. "It's a concern for fire departments, a concern for the residents. It's a concern for us when we're worried about our own people inside of a fire, where water is our lifeline." Neighbors said they believe mobile home park management is responsible for maintaining the hydrants. KDKA reached out to Town and Country Estates but didn't hear back on Wednesday night. Abby Donella, who grew up in the home that was destroyed, had a message for management. "Do better," she said. "I'm sure everybody else would feel safer here, and something like this probably would not be as devastating to somebody else." The 25-year-old believes working fire hydrants could have helped save her family's home. "My dad literally taught me my livelihood in this house," she said. "He taught me how to work on cars, everything from how to be a person, how to live for myself." The home, full of memories, was lost in an afternoon. Donella's parents lived there. "They lost everything," Donella said. "They lost their animals, they lost their memories, they lost their clothes." No one was inside at the time of the fire, but five of the family's pets died in the fire, Cramer said. "It sucks, it's awful," Donella said. Cramer said the fire was an extremely difficult battle for their firefighters because of the heat. When they arrived, much of the house was already involved, he added. Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the cause, Cramer said, but it does appear to be accidental. Donella said she's grateful for the community who's helped out her family.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘It's ridiculous': Contractor problems leave South Tampa roads in ruin
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Betsy Smith and her husband Art have been living with a problem for more than two years on their quiet South Tampa street. Many of the people who live on San Carlos Street are dealing with the same issue. PSTA approves first step in bringing back Cross Bay Ferry Smith said the city sent them a letter in 2008, saying they would soon start a project to improve the water pressure and fire safety in the area. '2008, we got our first letter from the city, saying they were going to redo the pipes, the water and the sewer lines,' Betsy Smith said. Then the recession came and the project never started. 'It started again with a letter in there from May of 2023, saying that it was going to be a three-week project,' Betsy Smith said. That was 104 weeks ago, and the project still isn't finished. In fact, the contractor doing the work has walked off the job. San Carlos and other streets in the area have been torn up. There are holes in the streets, water pipes that aren't hooked up stick out of their yard and the water pressure in their homes is still low. 'Then they dug up the pavement, they dug up the curbing and drainage,' Betsy Smith said. Frustrated, she called the city. 'And they were like, 'Oh, well, we're working on it',' Betsy Smith said. In addition to the water pipes that aren't hooked up, there are two fire hydrants on the street that are not connected. 'The communication between the city and the neighborhood has been zero,' Betsy Smith said. A city spokesperson issued a statement, saying: 'This project was designed to improve our water service to this community by replacing nearly 6 miles of aging pipeline and, by doing so, increasing water pressure, improving fire protection, and reducing future water main breaks. The City hired Young's Communication to complete the $5.37 million dollar project, and gave the go ahead to start work in late 2021. In April, however, the contractor stopped the project due to financial reasons, leading the City to declare Young's in default of its contract with the City.' Now, no work is being done at all, and the Smiths and their neighbors are angry. 'It's ridiculous to be put off this long,' Art Smith said. The statement from the city goes on to say, they are working to resolve the issue: 'City employees have submitted a claim against the construction company's performance bond and are working with its insurance company to hire a new contractor to finish the project at no additional cost to taxpayers.' However, at this time, a new contractor has not been selected. Holes remain in San Carlos and other streets and there is no set date for when the situation will improve. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
