Who’s responsible for snow removal around fire hydrants?

Some cities have a bylaw for clearing fire hydrant, while in others, the rules around snow removal are little unclear. CTV’s Colton Wiens explains.

The City of Waterloo is reminding residents that snow needs to be removed from fire hydrants.

What’s less clear, however, are the rules around snow removal.

Cambridge has a bylaw stating snow cannot obstruct fire hydrants, but that’s not the case in Kitchener and Waterloo. Instead, it’s framed as a social responsibility or good deed.

Waterloo said, with over 2,600 fire hydrants in the community, keeping them clear of snow can make all the difference in an emergency. Firefighters need quick access to hydrants and the city said, if they’re buried under snow, it can slow response times when every second counts and lives are at risk.

The city is planning to have crews out in the next few weeks to do some proactive clearing, similar to what they did last year, while some residents and businesses have already taken on the task.

“It’s whenever we shovel the driveway,” said Waterloo resident Scott Murphy.

The fire hydrant on his property is the only one on the street, so he feels a sense of responsibility to “do the right thing.”

“Look after our neighbours, make it so it protects our house. Make sure the fire department can get to it when they need it,” Murphy said. “Wouldn’t do any good if your house is on fire and they couldn’t get to the fire hydrant, right? So, it’s just kind of common logic.”

According to the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs, “there are few rules concerning who should clear hydrants, but it is generally considered the responsibility of the property owner.”

The Ontario Fire Code requires hydrants to be free from snow, but it does not say who has to do it, while privately owned fire hydrants must be cleared and maintained by property owners.

Fire officials also recommend at least one metre of clearance around the hydrant.