Fire Hydrants

The winter months bring a special concern to the citizens of Truckee, Donner Summit, and the Truckee Fire District. Winter storms often hide fire hydrants under a mountain of snow, making them impossible to find quickly. In the event of a fire, firefighters have to locate and clear hydrants of snow before they are able to connect hose and establish a water supply to aid in fighting fire. Please help the Fire District by adopting the hydrant closest to your house.

While clearing hydrants of snow is of great importance to the Truckee Fire Protection District, winter is also one of our busiest seasons and we are often unable to clear hydrants immediately after a snowstorm. You will oftentimes see our crews stopping at hydrants to clear them of snow. In most locations within the Fire District, hydrants are located 500 feet from one another. Because of the great number of hydrants located within the Fire District, it is virtually impossible to clear every hydrant of snow after each storm. The Fire District has adopted a strategic plan of which hydrants are to be cleared of snow after a snowstorm, depending on life-hazards and proximity to other hydrants which are maintained. 

You may notice that the hydrant nearest to your home or business is not clear after a storm, but chances are the next hydrant is. If you adopt the fire hydrant closest to your home, you will be greatly decreasing the time it would take us to start fighting a fire at your home or one near your home. This could potentially save a life and would certainly decrease the amount of damage caused by the fire.

Hydrants are only useful when they are accessible. We are asking your help in keeping the fire hydrant closest to your residents or business clear of snow. In order to connect hose to a hydrant, a clearance of three feet on all sides is required. When shoveling snow be aware of vehicle traffic. Do not stand in the street and be careful not to slip and fall out into the roadway. Also, keep hydrants free from overgrowth (grass, weeds, and shrubs) the rest of the year.

Unfortunately, snow blowers and plows can bury or damage hydrants. Snow stakes marking the location of fire hydrants help us find our nearest hydrant easily. If you notice that the stake attached a hydrant is missing or damaged, please let us know so that we can place a new marker on the hydrant.

If you should decide to adopt the hydrant closest to your home, there is no need to notify the city, water district or fire district. This is an informal, volunteer program. Your help is greatly appreciated and it can be a fun way to meet and chat with you neighbors. Work together to keep your hydrant clear. For more information, contact the Truckee Fire Protection District Prevention Office at (530) 582-7853.

Prevent Broken Gas Pipes and Fires: Safety Tips For Propane Tank Care During Heavy Snow Conditions

CPSC Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC -- Extraordinary snowfall in the mountains of California, Nevada, and Utah created deep snow that damaged propane pipes and tanks. Consumers trying to clear their roofs pushed heavy snow onto propane tanks, damaging the pipes and fittings, causing gas leaks. Some fires occurred, causing injuries and deaths. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) suggest the following safety tips for proper care of propane tanks in severe snowstorms:

• Use a broom instead of a shovel when clearing snow off the tank or around the exposed piping, regulator, gauges, or tubing.
• When clearing the roof, avoid shoveling snow onto exposed piping around the propane regulator near the building or onto the propane tank and piping, as well as any meters or other piping that may be in use.
• Check regulator vents on the propane system to be sure they are free of snow, ice or water that could freeze. (A two-stage system has a regulator on the tank and at the entrance of the propane piping to the building; a single regulator is on the tank.) If a regulator vent is clogged with ice or snow, contact your propane supplier immediately.
• Check all gas appliance exhaust and combustion air vents, such as dryer or furnace vents, to be sure they are kept clear of snow and ice.

Before a snow storm occurs:

• In areas where heavy snows are expected, cover the regulator, relief valves, and fill valves with a protective cap or "dome." This dome will keep out snow, ice, or rain which might clog the regulator if it freezes. In systems using more than one regulator, or where the cover is not in place, make certain the exposed regulator vent is in the downward position to keep out moisture.
• Prior to heavy snow storms, mark the location of the propane tank and other equipment with snow stakes which should extend well above the maximum anticipated snow depth. Consumers whose tanks and piping are not presently marked should mark them now.

The National Propane Gas Association is the trade association representing the propane gas industry. Contact local propane suppliers for more information about propane gas tanks and heavy snow conditions.

The Silent and Deadly Winter Hazard

One of the most dangerous wintertime sources of carbon monoxide is car exhaust. If you are stranded in your car and you keep the engine on in order to run your heater, make sure the exhaust pipe is clear. If the pipe is clogged with snow or other materials, the exhaust could back up into your car.

Any appliance in your home that burns fuel may emit carbon monoxide. Gas kitchen ranges and kerosene space heaters may emit carbon monoxide if they are not properly ventilated. Be sure to read the instructions on your heater to vent it correctly.

Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, mental confusion, and extreme tiredness. Get to fresh air and call for help immediately.

If you have several gas appliances, you may be constantly exposed to low levels of carbon monoxide. You may have mild health problems you haven't been able to explain, such as eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches; fatigue; nausea; heart palpitations; or breathing problems.

If you suspect you may have low-level carbon monoxide poisoning, call the local office of your utility company and ask them to check your gas appliances. Many utilities provide this service for free.

Sources:

Article from: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/oax/safety/carbonmon.php

The Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons Complete Home Medical Guide, Crown Publishers, Inc., 1989

The Nontoxic Home & Office, Jeremy P. Tarcher, Inc., Los Angeles, 1992

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