Anybody from Lavon, TX? Padlocked fire hydrants?

[txfireguy2003]

Just saw a story about the water company in Lavon locking fire hydrants, apparently due to theft. Anybody know any more about this?

If you live in Lavon, make this known to your city government, and make it known that it is a problem for firefighters. It's not so much that they can't make an initial attack on a fire, as the trucks carry some water in them, usually around 500 gallons, but some carry more depending upon how they were designed at purchase. The guys on that engine might be able to make an attack on the fire, but they only have a very limited supply of water which will run out very quickly, which is why hydrant water needs to be coming fast. While 30 seconds may not seem like long, it truly is, and if you're inside the burning house and run out of water before the hydrant can be opened, 30 seconds is a lifetime.

I understand the water company's position here, theft stinks, but somehow, I doubt they are loosing much from hydrants, unless they consider the fire department filling their trucks theft. I suppose it wouldn't be impossible for a civilian to get a hydrant wrench, and I've never tried, but I don't think a standard crescent wrench will open a hyrdrant, there are no parallel sides to the stem or caps.

Here's a link to the story.

http://www.firerescue1.com/fire-hydr...s&nlid=1924285

[captainsling]

That's crazy! Seems like a law suit waiting to happen. Wonder how an insurance company would feel about that if the hydrant was in your front yard and they knew it had a lock on it.

[dawgkllr]

Txfireguy I see your point regarding access in an emergency but I also know how easy it is for a dishonest water hauler to pull up, hook up and open a valve and be gone quickly. Hydrant wrenches are easy to come by and 24 inch monkey wrenches are even easier. Most every fire truck I've been around had a set of bolt cutters stashed away with all the other fire toys . Yeah a thief can also use bolt cutters but if they really want it your not gonna stop em. It sucks that this is what it has come to but it's probably the best solution to the problem I guess.

[Epack]

Just saw a story about the water company in Lavon locking fire hydrants, apparently due to theft. Anybody know any more about this?

If you live in Lavon, make this known to your city government, and make it known that it is a problem for firefighters. It's not so much that they can't make an initial attack on a fire, as the trucks carry some water in them, usually around 500 gallons, but some carry more depending upon how they were designed at purchase. The guys on that engine might be able to make an attack on the fire, but they only have a very limited supply of water which will run out very quickly, which is why hydrant water needs to be coming fast. While 30 seconds may not seem like long, it truly is, and if you're inside the burning house and run out of water before the hydrant can be opened, 30 seconds is a lifetime.

I understand the water company's position here, theft stinks, but somehow, I doubt they are loosing much from hydrants, unless they consider the fire department filling their trucks theft. I suppose it wouldn't be impossible for a civilian to get a hydrant wrench, and I've never tried, but I don't think a standard crescent wrench will open a hyrdrant, there are no parallel sides to the stem or caps.

Here's a link to the story.

http://www.firerescue1.com/fire-hydr...s&nlid=1924285

Yet to see an engine company without a pair of bolt cutters.

but yes I agree it's not good

[Atfulldraw]

I've got a hydrant wrench I bought on ebay....

it's easy.

[Andy]

Atfulldaw ....Did you get that stock tank filled yet????

[Atfulldraw]

Atfulldaw ....Did you get that stock tank filled yet????

lol. Another time, another place.

Years ago, I used to build houses -- some fire hydrants in Baton Rouge didn't have potable water - came right out of the Mississippi, so they didn't care much who used it.

Later they made us buy temporary permits to use the treated water. Even then, no one seemed to care how much we used.

I could clean dried concrete off a driveway without a pressure washer coming off a 3" hose!

[mykidsdad]

Our rural water supply also locks all fire hydrants due to the size and remote location of our system. Our hydrants are nothing more than glorified flush valves and do not offer true fire protection as they are not rated for so. We always assist local FD's to help fill trucks, however the hydrants can not be drafted from. Additionally, I don't mind if a lock is cut prior to arrival to begin filling trucks.

[Goldeneagle]

All you need is a big arse pipe wrench.

[medic151]

That would be a shock to pull up to a hydrant and have to cut a lock to get water, but as long as they know it, they can prepare for it. Also, what keeps the thieves from doing the same as bolt cutters are as easy to find as wrenches to open the hydrants. Sounds like a typical knee jerk reaction.

I volunteered at a small town FD and we had 7 hydrants in 78 square miles, so we did lots of tanker and drafting operations, not fun, but works.

[Txjourneyman]

I heard about this last week. In an interview on KRLD the local fire chief said, "We have keys to the padlocks but we won't take the time to figure out which key is correct, we will just cut the lock". To which a spokeswoman for the water district said, "We hope that doesn't happen. That would be destruction of private property".
It seems that all of the padlocks are not keyed the same and that could be a real pain in the butt. Can you see the firefighters going through the key ring? Nope...nope... nope... Got it!

[DTala]

I heard about this last week. In an interview on KRLD the local fire chief said, "We have keys to the padlocks but we won't take the time to figure out which key is correct, we will just cut the lock". To which a spokeswoman for the water district said, "We hope that doesn't happen. That would be destruction of private property".
It seems that all of the padlocks are not keyed the same and that could be a real pain in the butt. Can you see the firefighters going through the key ring? Nope...nope... nope... Got it!

I'd like to see try and prosecute a firechief for "destruction of private property" for cutting a lock to put a fire out.....

[Skinny]

I bet the firemen dig those bolt cutters out and make sure they are in good working order and are in a handy spot on the truck.

Skinny

[cvanbrunt]

I'd like to see try and prosecute a firechief for "destruction of private property" for cutting a lock to put a fire out.....

Jury Trial... Not guilty..

[txfireguy2003]

Sorry to post and run guys. I agree, as a fireman, I'm getting water, one way or another. And i guess if you know the hydrant is going to be locked, you'll grab the bolt cutters right of the bat. What i saw initially, was the way we operate, the first engine goes directly to the fire, and a subsequent engine brings water from the hydrant. To do this, they stop and one guy jumps off and pulls the 5" line from the back of the engine, the engine then drives off toward the fire, hose playing off the back. If they got in a hurry, and didn't realize the hydrant was locked, the engine, with its bolt cutters, could be 1200 feet away before it's noticed. That's a huge problem!

Like I said, i understand theft sucks, and I'm sure it happens, but what i don't understand, is why city water departments don't have this theft problem so bad they have to lock the hydrants. I'm being they are losing as much water to underground leaks as they are to theft. Like someone said, knee jerk reaction.