NHS students help fire crews clear fire hydrants

Newton High School students in the National Honor Society helped the Newton Fire Department clear snow from fire hydrants Monday, Feb. 1 in a Newton neighborhood.

The group cleared snow from approximately 40 hydrants. After a significant amount of snowfall the past few weeks, fire hydrants are potentially covered or partially covered by snow. This makes the Newton Fire Department’s job more difficult when responding to an emergency.

“Time is of the essence when fire crews are responding to a fire. The minutes, or even seconds, saved by having fire hydrants cleared for crews can make the difference between life or death” Fire chief Jarrod Wellik said.

National Honor Society advisor Tim Hemann said the students participate in at least two community service projects each year. It has been more difficult to complete these projects with the current social distancing restrictions and the need to protect others in the community as well as the students.

“We decided we could serve the community and stay a safe distance away from the people we are serving by helping the Newton Fire Department dig out fire hydrants around our town,” Hemann said.

The students had discussed clearing the hydrants in January but the snow had mostly melted by the time it had been arranged. After the latest storms brought a significant amount of snow to town, it was the perfect time to schedule the project.

“The fire department was grateful for the extra muscle we provided to dig out several fire hydrants around the school. The students provided their own shovels and were willing to put some work into this project so it would benefit others,” Hemann said.

This is the first time the students have helped clear hydrants as a service project. Hemann said they may do the project again after receiving such a positive response to the project.

“Having students volunteer with the Newton Fire Department, or any department in the City, is a great way to engage younger residents in local government as well as beneficial to the community as a whole. We truly appreciate all the hours that community members volunteer to continue to make our city a great place to live, work and play. The clearing of snow and ice from fire hydrants during the winter is something we try to educate the community on every year because it’s something simple that could save lives when it matters most,” community marketing manager Danielle Rogers said.

Anyone with a fire hydrant near their home can help the community by clearing snow around the apparatus. The NFD suggests clearing a path approximately three feet in diameter around the hydrant with an access path to the street. The help is always appreciated by Newton’s fire crews.

Contact Pam Pratt at 641-792-3121 ext. 6530 or pampratt@newtondailynews.com