Adopt A Hydrant

In the winter, fire hydrants often become covered by snowfall and/or plowing operations. In an emergency, every second counts. When a hydrant is blocked, hidden, or hard to find due to snow and ice, it slows down the fire department’s response.

Fire engines carry a limited amount of water, only enough for the first few minutes of the initial fire attack. When firefighters can’t find a hydrant due to snow, it costs time, which could be the difference between someone living or dying.

The Howard County Department of Fire & Rescue Services needs your help to keep fire hydrants clear in the event of emergency. By adopting a hydrant in your community, you’re making the county safer for everyone. Through the “adoption process,” you’ll make a pledge to make sure that a hydrant in your community is clear and visible for first responders, particularly when it snows.

Adopters will agree to clear a three-foot area around the hydrant to make sure firefighters can both see and quickly access the hydrant, along with a small, cleared pathway from the hydrant to the street.

To adopt a hydrant, visit

www.howardcountymd.gov/fire-and-rescue-services/adopt-hydrant.