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Duluth Fire launches “Adopt a Hydrant” Program

[Duluth, MN] This year, there is a new and fun reason to clear snow away from fire hydrants. The Duluth Fire Department launched an Adopt a Hydrant program earlier this week to keep hydrants clear of snow during the winter season. The Fire Department is asking residents to adopt a hydrant in their neighborhood, name it, and send in pictures after each snowfall for a chance to win a “Duluth Prize Pack” at the end of the winter as a thank you.

 “The response so far has been great,” Fire Chief Shawn Krizaj said. “We respond to a lot of fires during the winter months. Every second matters, and delaying our fire attack to clear a hydrant can really put us at a disadvantage. To pull up to a hydrant that is already shoveled and ready for us to use makes a huge difference as opposed to the times that we arrive and have to spend time removing snow to access a water line.”

Residents from across Duluth have submitted pictures of cleared hydrants and innovative names so far. Mel Sue from the Fond du Lac neighborhood sent in a photo of the hydrant she adopted that she has named “Sergeant Stage” She went on to say in a Facebook post that “he waits for the scene to be safe and then jumps into action!”

Other submissions noted that they had adopted hydrants in front or near their home for years.

Lindsay Holzhueter said, “My husband has been doing this for the past ten years by our house. He loves helping the DFD out!”

“To see residents taking their time to adopt a hydrant and take ownership of it in the case that a fire could happen to them or a neighbor means a lot,” Chief Krizaj said. “It shows the care that neighbors have for neighbors with one small act of kindness. It is greatly appreciated and really fun to see the pictures and the names that people come up with.”

The Duluth Fire Department asks residents with fire hydrants near their homes to clear a three-foot perimeter around the hydrant, including a path to the street. Keeping the hydrant clear of ice and snow allows firefighters to access the hydrant quickly in an emergency.

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