We are at the peak of the growing season right now.  That’s good for our tomatoes and beans, but not so much for our fire hydrants.

Last week, the Orcas Island Fire Department responded to a fire in the Eastsound Urban Growth Area. The firefighters were quickly able to extinguish the fire with the water resources carried on the fire truck. However, it was only after the fire event that the volunteer firefighters were able to identify the nearby fire hydrant. It was hidden behind untended grass that was taller than the hydrant.   If the fire event had been larger, the firefighters might have needed the water from the hydrant. Locating a hydrant hidden in the overgrown in the dark of night could take valuable time, when time is of the essence.

We would like to ask a favor from our island neighbors. If you have a fire hydrant on your property, or adjacent to your property, would you consider trimming back the growth when you are out caring for your own landscaping?

Technically, fire hydrants belong to the local water system. In Eastsound, EWUA does undertake routine maintenance on our hydrants to insure that they are functioning normally.  However, with well over 100 hydrants in our system, keeping up with “weed wacking” is a challenging proposition. We expect that other water systems face similar challenge with limited resources to be out and about regularly “weed wacking.”

Please consider “adopting” your neighborhood hydrant and helping keep it easily visible and accessible for service.   You never know who and when someone will need the service provided by that hydrant!

Paul Kamin

EWUA General Manager

Kevin O’Brien

Orcas Island Fire Chief