“When they got through, looked like it was working, but they said, ‘We’re turning it off, it’s got a leak,’” Woods said. “Two months later, I learned it’s controlled by Montgomery County water department.”
Brianna Wooten, spokeswoman for Montgomery County Environmental Services, said the fire department has said it’s not a public safety risk to have the hydrant out. The department has alternative methods for fighting fires in that area until the repairs are made, including accessing three other hydrants within 500 feet.
“Montgomery County maintains more than 1,400 miles of water lines and 12,000 fire hydrants in our system,” Wooten said by email.
Woods said after speaking with the county’s water department, he was told there are about 40 hydrants currently out of service.
“I want somebody to get on the ball and fix them; we have fires every day,” Woods said.
Wooten said the particular hydrant in Woods’ neighborhood is ranked No. 3 on the county’s list of nearly 40 to repair. She said it’s based on when the repair request was received and how crucial it is for public safety.
Wooten said the hydrant should be fixed by the end of June, and added that the county has repaired or replaced over 300 hydrants in the last year.
Wooten offered a timeline of the recent events in Harrison Twp. that lead to the hydrant being turned off.
She said a fire broke out March 9, and the next day on March 10, the Harrison Twp. fire department reported the hydrant at Embury Park and Elkhart Avenue was broken.
That hydrant was tagged out of service March 11. It’s been on a list to get repaired since then.
“The hydrant has a broken (cracked) stand pipe. For safety reasons, the hydrant has been taken out of service and is not currently operational,” Wooten said in an email.
Customers who want to report a problem with a fire hydrant or any other water/sewer infrastructure can call the county’s 24-hour dispatch line at 937-781-2678.
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