Inoperable dry hydrants could spell disaster in the township

Fire department plans alternative ways to get water to Hinckley’s rural areas

by Melissa Martin

July 21 trustees meeting

It’s no secret that the success of fire-suppression operations hinges on having a water source readily available in the event a fire breaks out. But what happens when a reliable water source is not available within close proximity of a blaze and firefighters aren’t aware of it until they arrive at the scene?

That’s exactly the situation Fire Chief Matt Payne said he and the township’s fire inspector are trying to avoid after dry hydrant testing conducted in recent weeks revealed that just three of the township’s 21 dry hydrants are rated as “good” or “reliable.”

Payne explained to residents in attendance that a dry hydrant is an unpressurized, permanently installed pipe system that allows firefighters to draft water from a static source – such as a pond, lake or stream – in areas where municipal water systems are not available. One end of the hydrant is submerged in the water source and a pipe runs up from the water to the dry land. When functional, dry hydrants, which are capped and fitted with a special connector that attaches to fire trucks, are capable of providing a reliable water source for fire suppression.

“From what I understand, testing of [the dry hydrants] hasn’t been conducted in quite some time,” Payne told trustees, noting that testing involves back flushing, trying to push water through the dry hydrants and flowing through them.

In many cases, he says, the department has found the majority of the township’s dry hydrants are inoperable.

“In a few cases, all we had was mud pour out of [the dry hydrants],” he said.

What does that mean for residents and local business owners? As Payne explained to trustees, there are several places throughout the township where a pressurized fire hydrant system is not available. In fact, just one-third of the township has access to city water and pressurized hydrants, he said, which means that in the event of a fire, water has to be shuttled to the scene by tanker from the closest available source.

Under those circumstances, it becomes even more difficult for firefighters to maintain an uninterrupted water source at the scene.

“An average dry hydrant, if it is maintained properly, has an average life span of 20-30 years,” Payne said. “Most [of those in Hinckley] are over the 30-year mark and they haven’t been well-maintained over the years, unfortunately.”

Before any of the hydrants could be fixed, he said, ownership has to be determined.

“Some of these are privately owned, some the township owns and some are owned by area homeowners’ associations,” Payne said. “We have to wade through all the paperwork to figure out if and when the hydrants were put in if they were required as part of the development’s approval or whether they were put in as a courtesy.”

Since his department does not have the time, resources or manpower to track down that information at the county level, Payne requested that trustees allow the county prosecutor’s office to determine the status of all 21 dry hydrants. Their approval was granted.

“This really needs to be sorted out since only a third of the township is covered by city water supply, it really hampers our firefighting abilities,” Payne told the board, noting that he is still uncertain whether ownership records even exist for the dry hydrants.

While the prosecutor’s office attempts to answer that question and determine just who is responsible for upkeep and maintenance of the dry hydrants, Payne said the fire department is now preparing alternative water source plans for the township.

“For the past couple days, we’ve been making a list of predetermined hydrants that we will hook to in the event we need to do a water shuttle,” he said. “At this point, there are five hydrants throughout the township that have been pre-designated for tanker shuttles instead of relying on the dry hydrants.”

Payne said his department plans to permanently seal several of the dry hydrants if and when he is able to determine the dry hydrants aren’t required to be maintained by law.

“We just don’t want the false security of a hydrant being there when it’s really not,” he said. “The fire inspector has been working on it daily, but I can tell you now, this is going to be a long project.”

The board also approved:

• A road salt contract with Cargill and the Ohio Department of Transportation. The township will pay $72.37 per ton for the 2026-2027 winter and trustees have indicated the township plans to purchase 977 tons for a total cost of $70,705.
• New police department contracts with the Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association.
• The purchase of two new chainsaws and two batteries, not to exceed $700, for use by the township’s fire department for cutting up trees downed in storms.
• A $500 donation for the police department from the trust of former resident Marge Palik.