December 19, 2007 Contact information

MEDIA RELEASE Fire Chief Michael B. Mansfield

Phone # 978-475-1281

For Immediate release

While Andover Fire Rescue personnel train for the worst-case scenarios, locating and clearing snow buried fire hydrants can cost precious moments needed to save lives and property from the ravages of fire and other types of emergencies.

With the recent winter weather storms and additional storms being predicted for later this week, Andover Fire Rescue is requesting assistance from Andover residents in clearing the approximately 1800 fire hydrants from snow.

Andover Fire Rescue and DPW personnel have been, and will continue to work diligently throughout the winter to uncover the hydrants but are being hampered by high snow banks that are making locating the hydrants more difficult.

Additionally, many hydrants have been found to be deliberately covered by private snow removal operators adding to the problem.

Some ideas to assist Andover Fire Rescue in keeping the hydrants maintained and clear are:

• Where there are multiple homes in the area of a fire hydrant, the clearing of the hydrant could be shared so that no one resident or household would have to clear it all winter long.
• Volunteer to clear a hydrant that is located near an elderly person that would be unable to shovel.
• Contact Andover Fire Rescue or the DPW with any problems with any fire hydrant.

The men and women of Andover Fire Rescue thank you in advance for your cooperation and assistance in keeping Andover safe.