IMPORTANT PUBLIC SAFETY INFORMATION

INFORMACION IMPORTANTE SOBRE SEGURIDAD PUBLICA

 We know its hard to stay cool in the heat of summer... but opening a fire hydrant is not the way to do that.... read more »

 Sabemos que es difícil mantenerse fresco cuando hace calor en el verano... pero abrir un hidrante contra incendios no es la forma de hacerlo... read more »

Officials: don't tamper with hydrants
Residents caught using fire hydrants to keep cool

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Rhode Islanders are trying just about anything to keep cool in this extreme summer heat - but one method is raising concern among fire officials. Eyewitness News found several residents using fire hydrants on Wednesday. A tool that fire officials say should only be used by authorized personnel. There are about 5,000 hydrants across the city of Providence.

But only workers with the water supply board and Providence firefighters are authorized to open them.

David Nickerson, Communications Manager of Providence Water , says the misuse of fire hydrants could put lives in danger. "It poses an incredible drain and strain on the fire protection system. There were several areas in the city and of our service area that didn't have any water pressure at all," Nickerson said. The lack of water pressure isn't the only concern officials have. The hydrants spew between 1,200 and 1,500 gallons of water per minute. That pressure could push a small child into oncoming traffic.

Providence Water and the Scituate Conservation Commission will be hosting an informational presentation for the general public on white-tailed deer management on Providence Water land.

Deer Management Meeting & Presentation
Monday, July 26, 2010, 7 PM

Register now