“The public thinks the fire department is responsible for the clearing fire hydrants. On average, it takes 20 minutes to dig out a hydrant. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards require hydrants every 1,000 feet for a building smaller than 3,600 square feet, and the duration of the water flow must be two hours or more. The first-arriving fire engine must establish fire flow water within four minutes.” ~ Scott Freeman

The National Fire Protection Association also recommends the following tips for winter fire safety:

Be safe and warm this winter

• Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable sapce heater.
• Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.
• Never use your oven to heat your home.

For more information about how to keep your family and community safe this winter please click here.