Fire Prevention Week 2006
Cooking Safety

FIRE DEPARTMENTS and WATER UTILITIES
By James F. Aucremanne, Utilities Analyst
WV Public Service Commission

There seems to be a misconception with the Fire Department about who is in charge of and responsible for the fire hydrants. I have researched with the State Fire Marshall’s Office and the Bureau of Health. The Water Utility’s water plant operator is in charge and responsible for the fire hydrants in ALL non-firefighting situation(s). The operator is responsible for flushing the hydrants at least once a year preferably twice a year and to keep the  proper records of such.

A second misconception of the Fire Department is that they can have FREE water service at the fire house. The Fire Department is considered a regular customer just like everyone else and must be billed for the consumption of all water used with the exception of firefighting purposes. Even the training of new firefighting techniques which requires the use or consumption of water is billable to the Fire Department.

The Public Service Commission requires the water utility to keep records of the amount of water produced or purchased versus the amount of water billed to the customers by the month. The Utility needs to communicate with the Fire Department that their co-operation is needed to complete the report and to arrive at a very accurate figure to file to the Commission. When the Fire Department either does not understand the reason(s) for the need of the figure of “amount  of water used”  to fight fire(s) or other uses, then the “ Unaccounted   For” water rate that the utility must file, is distorted or inaccurate. The Utility should approach the Fire Chief or Board of Directors and explain the need for their co-operation to accomplish this task. Most people are willing to co-operate if they are given an explanation of the reason(s) for the need of the request. I suggest that the utilities’ Board of Directors invite the Fire Department’s Board of Directors to a meeting to explain their need for the understanding and co-operation to achieve their goal.

The Utility needs to develop a policy and possibly a reporting form for the reporting of the amount of water used by the Fire Department monthly. One way is to install a 2" tap with a meter at the fire station, so when the fire truck(s) are filled up the meter can register the amount of gallons that  passed thru the meter. Another method is to estimate when firefighters use a fire hydrant to either fill up the truck or directly fight the fire from the hydrant.

Fire Departments historically have to raise funds to keep their operations financially solvent. They will haul water taken from a fire hydrant and transport it to fill a citizen’s swimming pool. The fire dept. did not pay for the water but received a donation from the citizen  for this service. The proper method to handle this situation is for the citizen to go to the utility’s office and pay for the amount of water to fill the pool. The utility will issue a receipt to the citizen and that person will present it to the fire dept. who will take the tanker truck to the utility’s plant and fill up the tanker. After the tanker has transferred the water and emptied it into the pool, the citizen can offer a donation to the fire dept. for the transportation of the water. At times, what becomes a serious problem(s) is when the fire dept. just pulls up to a hydrant and takes the water without permission or notification from the utility. OR the tanker goes into another utilities’ territory and raids the hydrant(s). That is an unacceptable practice and should not be tolerated.

Tampering with  fire hydrant(s) can be very costly from stripping the threads on the caps to placing the hydrants out of service which could be disastrous in the event of a fire. Who is responsible for the repairs on the hydrants(s)?  It should be the party who caused the damage, but in reality, when it is not reported, the utility is ultimately responsible for the repairs.

 Both the Fire Department and the Water Utility are a service-oriented  organization for the community and they should strive towards  “ working together” instead of “working  against” each other. There are “power struggles” that exist and that needs to be stopped for the “common good” and survival of the community. 
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Footnote:  This article was contributed by the author.  It should be noted that in an actual "fire emergency", the fire officer does NOT have to obtain the permission of the water utility for water usage.  The Fire Department SHOULD however notify the water utility and deliver an "estimate" of gallons used in fire suppression activities.

Anthony Carrico, Deputy State Fire Marshal