Community watchdog: Snow covers fire hydrant

We have a dangerous situation in our neighborhood and the Town of North Hempstead won't do anything about it. Town plows pushed all the snow from our cul-de-sac and dumped it in a pile that's close to 6 feet high and completely covers the fire hydrant. I've called the town's 311 hotline three times. I'm told they'll come, but nothing happens. The fire department says they're not responsible for keeping the hydrant clear. What if there's a fire here?

- Bob Nodelman, New Hyde Park 

The town's highway department responded immediately after we called to clear the snow from the hydrant because officials recognized the potential danger in a snow-covered hydrant, spokesman Collin Nash said.

What surprised us is that Nassau and Suffolk fire officials say there are apparently no laws assigning responsibility for keeping hydrants clear of snow.

"There's no overriding ordinance that addresses it that I'm aware of," said Vincent McManus, spokesman for the Nassau County Fire Marshal's Office.

"There's no set policy," said Anthony LaFerrera, president of the Suffolk County Fire Chiefs Council and ex-chief of the North Babylon Fire Department. "Each department in Suffolk takes it upon themselves to have the volunteer firefighters go out and shovel hydrants. We're asking for assistance because they can't clear them overnight . . . if there's a fire somewhere, that can only cause a major headache."

Some fire departments - Huntington Manor in Huntington Station, for one - have posted signs on electronic billboards asking for help. The problem is, many resent being asked to clear the hydrant near their home. McManus said he was stunned by the angry responses on News 12 Long Island's website after an appeal for homeowners to help was posted in December.

SEE PHOTOSSnowstorms that buried LI over the past 100-plus years

The volunteers do try to clear the hydrants, McManus told us, but with hundreds of hydrants in each community, homeowners can make a huge difference to increase safety. "They could do something very simple and perhaps save a life," he said.

Pumper trucks hold about 500 gallons of water, and it takes only a few minutes to deplete that supply fighting a fire, according to McManus. Finding the hydrant and clearing it of snow adds critical time in a fire emergency.

"Look at any fire deaths," he said. "One topic always at the top of the list is lack of water supply or delayed water. It's a big contributing factor in property damage and injuries and deaths." 

We finally have information about the state Department of Transportation's investigation of the chaotic five-way intersection at Dix Hills Road and Jericho Turnpike in Huntington Station.

In October, we wrote about the concerns of Lynda Weinstein of Huntington. "The problem is, this intersection has five streets, three traffic lights, no turning arrows, nor delayed traffic light for those making turns onto Jericho from Dix Hills Road," she said in an e-mail. Several readers made the same point. The DOT had looked at the intersection years ago, but the data was old and the agency was investigating again because of new complaints.

DOT spokeswoman Eileen Peters told us that after the study was completed in the fall, she'd share the results.

But last month, when we asked Peters for details, she responded in an e-mail: "Sorry, but we cannot comment on any specifics until the Town of Huntington has had adequate opportunity to review the investigation findings."

We don't know why the DOT's conclusions would be kept from the public, so we contacted the Town of Huntington. Spokeswoman Joan Cergol said in an e-mail: "The DOT has provided four recommendations that would greatly impact the community . . . north of the subject intersection. Three of the recommendations involve changes or restrictions to the flow of traffic on Dix Hills Road and the fourth involves adding yet another signal at Broadway that would delay traffic . . . on Jericho Tpke.

"The three specific DOT recommendations are:

1. Restrict southbound Dix Hills Road at Jericho Tpke. to right turns only;

2. Convert all or a portion of Dix Hills Road north of Jericho Tpke to a one way northbound operation;

3. Dead end the northern leg of Dix Hills Road at Jericho Turnpike."

Town and state officials are meeting this week "to see if it is possible to come up with a solution that is not onerous to the community," Cergol wrote. "The Town has been meeting with the community regarding the four recommendations . . . and the community . . . is pressing for another solution. We are hopeful that another idea can come out of this meeting that is mutually acceptable to the DOT, Town and neighboring community." Stay tuned.