Dry Hydrants Keep Firefighters Wet

Water is a precious commodity to firefighters, who know how to make a little go a long way. Water to fight wildfires or structural fires comes from tanker engines or sidewalk fire hydrants, but additional sources are often needed. Firefighters in rural areas use "dry fire hydrants" to make use of local water sources. The Department of Fire Programs (VDFP) and the Department of Forestry (VDOF) work together to make sure firefighters have access to this community resource.

Though it sounds like a contradiction in terms, dry fire hydrants are a real and valuable tool for firefighters. A dry fire hydrant is a non-pressurized pipe system permanently installed in existing lakes, ponds and streams that provides a suction supply of water to a fire department trucks. These vehicles attach hoses to a dry fire hydrant and pump water out for use at a fire. Communities can apply for grant funding to add a dry fire hydrant to their area.

"Virginia's dry fire hydrant network has grown tremendously over the last decade, thanks to funding provided by the Fire Programs Fund. We are very pleased to partner with the Virginia Department of Forestry in this successful program. The installation of a dry fire hydrant provides a more reliable connection between a fire apparatus and a body of water, resulting in reduced fill-up times when hauling water to the scene of a fire. The location of these dry fire hydrants for better fire department access undoubtedly reduces travel time, which in turn provides firefighters with a better chance to save more lives and property. The installation is a small investment that pays huge dividends when a fire breaks out," said Buddy Hyde, Executive Director for the Virginia Department of Fire Programs.

Virginia's Dry Fire Hydrant Grant Program is funded by the General Assembly through the Virginia Fire Programs Fund. The program is administered by the Department of Fire Programs and the Department of Forestry and is assisted by an advisory committee. To date, the program has provided 1,417 dry fire hydrants to communities across the Commonwealth. The very first dry fire hydrant was installed during the summer of 1988 at the Atlantic Fire Department near Arcadia High School in Accomack County on the Eastern Shore.

The objectives of the program are to:

• Conserve energy by reducing losses from fires.
• Conserve energy by reducing miles traveled to shuttle water.
• Fund the installation of dry fire hydrants that otherwise would not be installed.
• Conserve processed domestic water supplies in urban and urbanizing areas.

"The dry fire hydrant project continues to be one of the most valuable and visible programs that can be offered to communities," said John Miller, VDOF director of resource protection. For more information on Dry Fire Hydrants, visit www.dof.virginia.gov/fire/dry-hydrants.shtml

Water conservation requires simple steps that make a difference. "I encourage all Virginians to join in taking these important steps, such as planting spring flowers that don't require excessive watering, washing your cars less often, and most importantly - heed to public water suppliers when they call for us to conserve water at critical times," stated Fred Turck, VDOF assistant director for wildfire prevention and education.

Turck also urged Virginians to exercise caution in Virginia's forests, which are at near-record dryness levels for this time of year.

"All of the traditional precautions - putting campfires dead-out, following all local rules on backyard burning, and awareness of other causes of fire - are more important now than ever," he said.

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The Virginia Department of Forestry protects and develops healthy, sustainable forest resources for Virginians. Headquartered in Charlottesville, there are Forestry staff members assigned to every county to provide service to citizens of the Commonwealth. VDOF is an equal opportunity provider.

With nearly 16 million acres of forest land and more than 248,000 Virginians employed in the forest products industry, Virginia forests provide more than $30 billion annually in benefits to the Commonwealth.