Photo: Don't Forget Fire Hydrants After Snow

Livingston residents have seemingly finished digging out from this past weekend's storm.  But with winter just beginning — officially today, December 21 — Livingston's fire chief is asking residents to make sure hydrants get cleared now and in future storms.

"Clear the snow from around the fire hydrant in their neighborhood, even if  the hydrant is not in front of your house," advised Chief Mullin to Patch via an email.

"There are occasions where the hydrant may be in front of a house where an elderly or incapacitated resident lives and they do not have ability to clear the snow themselves," he continued.

A cleared hydrant makes for a much quicker water supply during a fire emergency.   A buried or frozen hydrant could take several minutes to locate and dig out before it is ready for use.

"In an emergency, every second counts, so clear your hydrant," said Mullin.