In order to facilitate quicker emergency response during winter weather, the Washington Township Fire Department is asking citizens to maintain fire hydrants free of snow and ice. Firefighters request that a clean path be shoveled from the street to each hydrant, with at least three feet of space cleared on both sides. Hydrants should be visible from the road, and snow and ice should be cleared from the area surrounding the nozzle caps.

Hydrants buried by snow can take several minutes to find and excavate, which delays crucial fire operations when time is of the essence, according to department officials. Even though it just takes a few minutes, clearing a hydrant can have a big impact in an emergency.