Mary Loveland
Daily Elk Citian
The Elk City Fire Department is currently testing and repainting every one of the city's 595 fire hydrants.
The testing process includes checking static and residual pressure at each hydrant which will determine the hydrant's rating on a gallons-per-minute system.
The color of the cap at each hydrant determines the rate at which water flows out of it. Blue caps are considered to be the 'best' hydrant with a 1500-3000 gallons per minute rating. Black caps designate a hydrant with no water.
Firemen will repaint all of the fire hydrants red along with re-coloring each cap according to test results as soon as the tests are complete.
Billy Word, Elk City Fire Department Assistant Chief, said the last time the Elk City Fire Department performed this procedure was in 1999.
"It used to be that we did it every year," Word said.
But, as the fire department has conducted testing on the hydrants they have noticed that some residents have landscaping or shrubbery blocking access to the hydrant both visually and physically.
City code states, "It is unlawful for any person to, in any manner, obstruct access to any fire hydrant by placing around or thereon brick, lumber, dirt or other things."
City Hall has included a message into upcoming water bills that reads, "Please be aware if you have any obstructions in your yard that it is your responsibility to remove landscaping or shrubbery so that the fire hydrant is visible from the road no matter what direction the fire truck may be traveling."
Word said there are several hydrants around town that are completely invisible from the street because of this problem.
"Some people actually go out and paint the hydrants in their yard to match their house," Word said.
The fire department has offered a friendly warning that all plants, shrubbery or yard decor that may be blocking a fire hydrant be removed before fire crews arrive to test and repaint the hydrants.