City of Martin Fire Department to Inspect Rural Fire Hydrants

Fire Chief Jamie Summers announces that during the next few months, the City of Martin Fire/Rescue/EMS will be inspecting the fire hydrants in the rural community. Fire crews will be out Monday through Thursday from 9:00am to 12:00pm until all the rural hydrants are inspected. The inspection involves removing all caps and lubricating the threads, flowing water to ensure that each hydrant is operating properly, painting and color coding, placing reflective bands for visibility and gathering GPS information.

All fire hydrants in the community are known as dry barrel hydrants, meaning that there is no water in the barrel of the hydrant until the hydrant is opened. This helps ensure that the hydrants will not freeze in cold weather and will therefore be available when needed for a fire. After every use and inspection, the hydrants are closed, and the water drains out. Hydrants that do not drain properly, or with other problems, are reported to the City of Martin Public Works for further maintenance.

This annual testing is essential to maintain the community’s Class 3 Insurance Services Office (ISO) Public Protection Classification, and to ensure that hydrants are operating efficiently for fire protection purposes. Along with maintaining the fire rating, the testing monitors the health of the city’s water system, identifies weak areas in the system, removes materials that settle in the hydrant, and cleans out the lines. Checking each hydrant improves crew knowledge of hydrant locations. Fire department personnel will check to make sure there is adequate clearance around all fire hydrants, and property owners should clear weeds and brush from blocked hydrants to aid in their easy identification and access. The fire code requires at least 36 inches of clear area around the hydrant for proper access and helps assure that the hydrant is visible from the road.

During hydrant inspections, residents might experience temporarily low water pressure or discolored (rusty) water. The discoloration of water will not harm an individual, although it may stain light colored clothing. The fire department advises that you run your faucets until you have clean water. Do not run your hot water or do laundry until your water is clear. If you have any questions or should you at any time notice a hydrant in need of repair, please contact the fire department at 731-587-4919.