Posted on 05/21/2007 4:22:47 PM PDT by george76
A stepped-up inspection of D.C. fire hydrants is finding that nearly 10 percent don't work, fire union officials said yesterday.
Firefighters doing the testing said they think that more than 900 hydrants across the city are not in working order, posing a significant public safety risk.
The D.C. Water and Sewer Authority has greatly underestimated the severity of the problem, union leaders and other D.C. officials said.
"Clearly, WASA has a much larger problem than what they realized," said Dan Dugan, president of the D.C. Firefighters Association.
The fire department's most recent round of tests began after a fire April 30 at the Georgetown public library. The two hydrants closest to the scene didn't work, and firefighters had to use other hydrants about two blocks away.
Rubin said that in Atlanta, where he was fire chief until earlier this year, about 10 to 20 percent of the hydrants are generally out of service, but he contended that did not cause problems. He said the number matters less than knowing which ones work and which ones don't.
"When we don't know which ones are working, it's kind of like playing Russian roulette," Rubin said. "The biggest issue is when we're completely blindsided."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
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Dogs don’t seem to mind.
OTOH, it is news that 90% of anything in DC works.
When I worked at the Water Authority, all valves were “exercized” on a regular schedule. Somebody’s not doing their job.
The firefighters, members of the AFSCME Union #311, recommended that the hydrants be replaced, at a cost of nearly $4 billion, by members of the Plumbers and Fitters Union #311.
Affirmative action at it’s very finest.
Two problems hydrants I have run into:
One was not properly affixed to the vertical pipe (fortunately saw this before the valve was opened).
Two had the shaft for the valve break when attempting to turn it off.
I hate flying.
Each hydrant should be inspected and operated yearly by the fire company who’s first-in district it’s in, I believe most departments do that, if not they should.
Washington D.C. - the best run municipality in the United States!
But God forbid if you want to own a gun!
How apropos. We in the construction business often consider building inspectors like fire hydrants : rarely used for public purposes like fighting fires, often used by dogs to relieve themselves upon.
Fire Hyrants don’t vote. Next question.
Nearly 90 Percent Of Unionists Don't Work, Hydrant Says
DC Firefighters are represented by Local #36 IAFF.
Rubin was hired to make Fenty’s excuses for him. Whe he says it doesnt matter if 10% of the hydrants dont work, he is full of crap.
The water in DC’s mains is supplied by gravity. There is no high pressure pumping system in DC. The highest reservoir in DC is off New York Ave. NE. If the plugs the Fire Department needs are on a high hill there is little pressure in them to begin with. If they dont open fully there is a big problem.
DC used to use a two punp operation where the pumper stayed at the plug,while the Hose wagon went to the fire. This was an excellent system and provided 2400 feet of hose and a way to get presure to the fire. Unfortunately it cost more,and the city decided to do away with the pumpers and just use hydrant pressure until another company arrived to pump through a special valve which allows a pumper to hook up while the pumper on site at the fire is getting hydrant pressure. It means it takes longer to get proper pressure and they have less hose to reach hydrants that work when one doesnt.
This Fire Chief has made a career of jumping from one department to another wih his trumped up resume’s,but then he wasnt hired to be a Fire Chief anyway, he was hired to be Mayor Fenty’s white Stepinfetchit.
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