file photo by Boyd Loving
JANUARY 26, 2016 LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2016, 1:21 AM
BY JOHN CICHOWSKI
THE RECORD
You’ve no doubt heard about a sad winter phenomenon that recurs whenever snow and fire converge to cause panic, destruction and homelessness. It happens when firefighters arrive in time to quell a blaze, but they can’t hook up their equipment quickly enough — either because they’re unable to find a snow-covered hydrant, or when they do find one, they’re forced to waste precious minutes digging it out.
“And in a fire, everybody knows each minute counts,” said Ho-Ho-Kus Fire Chief Matt Menzel.
That’s why next Monday — nine days after Mother Nature covered nearly every hydrant from Mahwah to Cape May — a New Jersey law takes effect to make it easier for firefighters to find hydrants and quickly hook up their hoses. The legislation allows New Jersey’s 566 local governments to adopt ordinances requiring municipal installation of tall locator poles on all hydrants while encouraging each local governing body to require property owners to dig them out 24 hours after a snowfall or face a $75 fee if the municipality must do it.
Fire chiefs like Menzel aren’t taking sides, but the law has prompted considerable homeowner debate since Governor Christie signed it in July.
“I didn’t ask to have a fire hydrant on my lawn!” proclaimed Totowa’s Vincent D’Antonio Sr. “Will my taxes go down if I perform this municipal service? If not, I want the hydrant removed. This is absolutely a municipal function, 100 percent.”
Let us hope your home does not catch fire. Cannot believe you are that lazy and inconsiderate, cleaning the hydrant is to your benefit.
“I didn’t ask to have a fire hydrant on my lawn!” proclaimed Totowa’s Vincent D’Antonio Sr. “Will my taxes go down if I perform this municipal service? If not, I want the hydrant removed. This is absolutely a municipal function, 100 percent.”
What an absolute a**hole.
It people like him that have caused this country to be in the condition that it is in.
Ridgewood > Totowa.
My neighbor on Berkshire does a great job every time it snows…we should probably buy him a cocktail to two…
11:33, for neighbors to recognize that effort would be old fashioned and very nice. Do it!