Shovel Snow, Win $75 And Roll Up To School In A Fire Truck

ELLINGTON, CT — The Ellington Volunteer Fire Department is turning a simple winter chore into a community contest — and a chance to win a prize.

The department is asking residents to clear snow and ice from around nearby fire hydrants and post a photo in the comments of its Facebook thread. One randomly selected participant will receive a $75 Amazon gift card and a ride to school on a fire truck.

Fire officials noted that Ellington does not have an ordinance assigning responsibility for hydrant clearing. While crews do what they can, they are urging neighbors to step in, even if the hydrant is not on their property. A cleared hydrant, they emphasized, benefits the entire neighborhood in an emergency.

To qualify, residents must live within the department’s response district and post a photo of the cleared hydrant. The drawing will be held Saturday, Feb. 28, and the winner will be contacted through Facebook.

Clearing at least three feet around a hydrant — including a path to the street — can save critical time during a fire response.