Show your fire hydrants the light of day

MILLERTON — There are dozens of home and property maintenance issues that arise with the amount of snow that’s been deposited on the Harlem Valley this winter, but there’s one in particular that may not have crossed your mind.

Keeping fire hydrants clear, especially after the heavy snow accumulation of the past few weeks, is a must during the winter. It is also, in the village of Millerton, legally the job of the property owner.

“We do our best to cut back close to them as much as we can with the highway department’s snowplows,” explained Mayor John Scutieri, “but really it’s the responsibility of the homeowners to keep it clean and visible.”

And for residents with elderly neighbors who might be unable to keep the hydrants clear in front of their homes, both Scutieri and North East town Supervisor Dave Sherman ask that people lend a helping hand.

“Think of your neighbors,” Scutieri said. “If they are elderly and can’t get out there, take a shovel and dig the hydrant out. It only takes a few minutes but you feel good about doing it.”

“If someone has a snow thrower and/or a strong back to be able to pitch in,” added Dave Sherman, “we would ask them to please help out. It’s a matter of public safety, making sure there is access available to the hydrants.”

The town doesn’t have that many fire hydrants, with the shared water district mainly lying in the village, but it’s important to keep all of the access points open. Sherman said if there’s a problem with buildup to contact the town clerk at 518-789-3778 and if needed the highway department will come out to address the problem.

Only a few feet of clearance around the hydrant is necessary, so that in the event of a fire or other emergency the fire company has enough room to hook up a hose. It’s also a good idea to stick a tall marker next to the hydrant, so if it gets buried under the snow in another storm, the fire department will be able to find it. So, too, will property owners or highway crews when going to shovel hydrants out.

“February is noted to be a snowy month,” Sherman added. “And we’re just a few days in, basically. Consequently, the likelihood that we’ll have more snow before Mother Nature smiles on us and starts melting the snow down is very likely.”