WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Many fires this time of year are often connected to trying to keep up with cold weather. About 46% of heater-related fires occur during the winter in the U.S., and local firefighters are reminding residents how to stay safe.
Now that the first winter storm has passed, and it was a large one with some areas getting over a foot of snow, firefighters are issuing a public safety reminder: clear snow and ice from fire hydrants. Snowfall, snowplows pushing snow to the edges of streets, and freezing conditions over the last several days may have left many hydrants hidden or blocked.
If there is a fire in your neighborhood, firefighters need quick access to the closest hydrant. It may only take a few minutes to shovel out a hydrant, but those minutes can feel much longer when firefighters are working against the clock to save a life or a building. A fire can double in size in as little as 30 seconds…