This snow season, the Oregon Area Fire/EMS District is excited to launch our “Adopt a Hydrant” initiative, designed to ensure faster emergency response times and involve the community in keeping our neighborhoods safe.
During significant snowfall events, snow and ice can bury fire hydrants, making it difficult for our crews to access them during an emergency. When time matters most, the extra minutes spent digging out a hydrant could mean the difference between containing a fire quickly or it spreading uncontrollably. That’s why we need your help!
Adopt a Hydrant: We encourage community members to “adopt” a fire hydrant near their homes and keep it clear of snow and ice throughout the winter.
Snow Clearing Instructions: After each snowfall, the fire department will post an announcement on our website via an alert banner, news article, and Facebook page, letting residents know it’s time to clear their hydrants. Please make sure your hydrant is cleared within 24 hours after the snowfall ends.
The Importance of Clearing: While snow may start fluffy, once the roads are plowed and salt is applied, that fluffy snow can turn into heavy, thick slush. Over time, this slush is pushed to the curb by plows, forming ice around hydrants. This makes the hydrants difficult to access quickly during emergencies, which is why consistent clearing is so essential. Keeping hydrants clear ensures our crews can spend less time digging them out and more time connecting them to the engine.
Photo Submission for Prizes: Once your hydrant is cleared, we’d love to see the result! Take a picture of your cleared hydrant (children may be in the photo if parents/guardians approve). Safety first: please take photos from the sidewalk or grass to avoid stepping into the street. Post your photo in the comment section of our Facebook post for that event. You’ll automatically be entered into a drawing to win a prize! Each snowfall event is a new opportunity to win.
Note: All photos submitted may be used for publication on our website and social media channels. By submitting a photo in the comment section, you are giving implied consent for us to use the image in these platforms.
Verifying Hydrants: Before prizes are awarded, we will verify that the hydrant has been cleared properly. Submitting repeat photos or photos that do not align with the spirit of the event can result in disqualification.
Hydrant Fun: We encourage you to name your adopted hydrant and make this a fun family activity. Children are especially encouraged to keep an eye on the hydrant all season long.
It’s important to note that not all snowfall events will activate the Adopt a Hydrant program. Smaller snowfalls may not bury hydrants or may melt quickly enough that there’s no need for clearing. We will only post on our website and Facebook when we anticipate significant snow that could block access to hydrants.
That being said, we encourage residents to clear their hydrant anytime they deem it necessary for safety—even if it doesn’t count toward our event. However, only photos submitted during official event activations will qualify for prizes.
In an emergency, every second counts. When fire crews arrive at a scene, having quick access to water is critical to controlling a fire. A buried hydrant can delay this vital connection to the engine. By ensuring your local hydrant is visible and accessible, you’re playing an important role in protecting your neighborhood and helping us do our job faster.
Not only does this support our firefighters, but it also builds community spirit and ensures that everyone—young and old—can contribute to making our town safer. Plus, the opportunity to win prizes adds a little extra incentive to get involved!
Keep an eye on our website and Facebook page for the next snowfall alert. When the time comes, head outside, clear your adopted hydrant, and snap a photo! We’re excited to see all of your creative hydrant names and hear about how you’re keeping your hydrants safe this winter.
Remember, even if you aren’t selected for a prize, we deeply appreciate your efforts to keep your hydrant cleared and your community safer. We’ll be running this program throughout the entire snow season, so there are plenty of opportunities to participate and win.
Thank you for partnering with us to protect our community—together, we can make a big difference!
