Allegedly Non-Functioning Fire Hydrants Draws Question

By Robert Thomas

A garage fire where there was allegedly two non-functioning fire hydrants had a councillor asking questions on Monday afternoon.

During the enquiries section of Monday afternoon’s regular Council meeting Councillor Doug Blanc asked a question how many fire hydrants are non-functional in the community.

Councillor Blanc said he asked the question in response to an incident reported to him about a garage fire where allegedly two fire hydrants failed when called into action.

“How many fire hydrants are there in the city that are non-functional and don’t work?” Councillor Blanc asked after relating the concerns raised to him by a resident.

Councillor Doug Blanc asked about how many fire hydrants were not working properly in the community - MJ Independent photo

Councillor Blanc said he was raising the concerns expressed by a resident about an incident where multiple fire hydrants allegedly didn’t work during an emergency situation. A fire that consumed a garage.

“He said the fire department came and hooked up a hose to a hydrant and it didn’t work. So they hooked up another hose to another hydrant and that hydrant didn’t work. They found a third hydrant and I think it did work, and they were able to contain it (the fire) to the garage,” Councillor Blanc said.

He went on to ask given how it seemed multiple fire hydrants weren’t working how safe was it for residents.

Fire Chief Rod Montgomery responded to questions from Councillor Doug Blanc - MJ Independent photo

Fire Chief Rod Montgomery said he did not know how many fire hydrants were non-functional but the City had a program of flushing and function testing them. Admitting that program may not be keeping up.

“Those are great questions but I don’t have the answers (in front of me on the table) I know (the) Engineering (Department) is suppose to be checking and flushing them on a rotational basis,” Chief Montgomery said, adding “it has been a problem where hydrants have sat for a long time and not (been serviced)…I’m not going to argue that.”

When Councillor Blanc sought to further question Chief Montgomery on how safe of a situation it was with non-functional fire, hydrants Councillor Dawn Luhning rose on a point of order to point out enquiries were to ask questions only and not to debate Administration.

The fire hydrant on the corner of Caribou Street West and 14th Avenue Northwest was one given by Councillor Doug Blanc as an example of a fire hydrant that one time had been out of service for over two years - MJ Independent photo

Chief Montgomery apologized if he did not answer the question properly and went on the state each pumper truck carried sufficient hoses to access other area hydrants in the event of failure.

“We do carry 1000 feet (of hose) so we do have the ability to go to a greater distance (if necessary),” he said.