Recently, South Windsor, CT has been hit with lots of snow, resulting in multiple snow days and dangerous driving conditions.
Since everything outdoors has been buried in snow, local departments took action to help keep everyone safe.
The South Windsor Fire Department along with the South Windsor Fire Marshal’s office, South Windsor Emergency Management, and Town of South Windsor Public Works, challenged all town residents to participate in a Shovel Out a Fire Hydrant Contest.
The contest brought the South Windsor community together during the stretch of heavy snowfall that seemed to last forever during the last week of February.
To enter in the contest, any town resident was required to shovel a 3-foot area around a fire hydrant, and then clear a path from that hydrant to the street. Participants then had to take a photo of their work, and post it in the comment section of a FaceBook post promoting the competition.
This challenge was about more than a FaceBook comment, as covered fire hydrants pose a real threat to firefighting abilities.
In freezing temperatures, snow can quickly harden and turn into ice, making it extremely difficult for firefighters to find or reach hydrants in the event of an emergency. Clearing hydrants ahead of time ensures an efficient and safe procedure for firefighters in dangerous situations.
This contest was a smart, safe way to keep the town ready for emergencies and to get people more involved in the community. When fire hydrants are cleared, it can save valuable time during an emergency, even if it is just a couple seconds.
Contest winners could choose either a $50 gift card to a local restaurant, or a ride to school in a South Windsor fire engine as their prize, appealing to both students and older residents.
By turning this safety procedure into a competition, the South Windsor Fire Department encouraged anyone and everyone to participate, with the goal of protecting the town.
This challenge showed that even though South Windsor firefighters have a job to protect and serve, it does not eliminate the shared responsibility of the South Windsor community to step up and contribute in times of need.
Congratulations to Bonnie Driscoll and Beth Boyajian, the winners of the Shovel Out a Fire Hydrant contest, and all participants who made an effort to keep the South Windsor community safe.
Efforts like these make a real difference, no matter the weather.
