In addition to being used for drinking water system maintenance activities, fire hydrants provide water supply to fight fires. Fire trucks carry a finite amount of water, so one of the responders’ first tasks upon arrival is locating a water supply from the nearest hydrant.
In an emergency, every second matters. Hydrants covered in snow can be difficult to locate and uncovering them can waste valuable time needed during a fire fight.
Please help by keeping nearby fire hydrants accessible and clear of ice and snow. Although there are no rules concerning who should clear hydrants, it’s generally considered the responsibility of the residents occupying property near a hydrant. If you see a hydrant that’s not cleared of snow, please do the neighbourly thing and dig it out. The City's Open GIS Data Portal provides an interactive map of hydrant locations in Barrie.
Hydrants should have a clearing of one metre (three feet) all around and there should be a clear path to the street to ensure firefighters can readily access them.
If you're physically unable to remove snow from around a hydrant on or near your property, please contact Water Operations at 705-792-7920 or WaterOperations@barrie.ca. Barrie has over 4,000 public hydrants. Snow removal from public hydrants is performed proactively and upon request by a contractor that primarily works throughout the evening and/or early morning hours, but depending on the snowfall it's not always possible for the contractor to clear large amounts of fire hydrants in a timely manner.
Please consider the following:
- A cleared hydrant can help save lives and property in your neighbourhood.
- Barrie has over 4,000 hydrants that need to be cleared every time there is a snowfall.
- While the City's contractor makes every effort to clear snow from fire hydrants, it’s important to take matters into your own hands to help keep hydrants clear.
- The owners or occupants of rental units or buildings are responsible for keeping hydrants on or fronting their properties clear.
- Elderly people or those with medical conditions may benefit from their friends' or neighbours' assistance in keeping nearby fire hydrants clear.