Town of Greece Fire Departments
Barnard, North Greece, Lake Shore and the Ridge Road Fire District

Greece, NY – February 21, 2025 – As winter weather blankets our community, one simple act can make a life-saving difference during a fire emergency: clearing snow around fire hydrants. Every winter, firefighters face the additional challenge of accessing hydrants buried under heavy snow, delaying their response time when every second counts.
Fire can more than double in size every 30 seconds, and each moment spent digging out a hydrant is a moment of precious time lost. In emergencies, that time could be the difference between life and death, or the preventable destruction of homes and property.
We urge all residents to take a few minutes this winter to help your local firefighters by clearing the snow around fire hydrants near your home. Even if you don't have a hydrant in your front yard, please consider helping your neighbors by clearing theirs. A fire hydrant that’s easily accessible can save lives—not just for others, but potentially for your own family and home as well.

Why It Matters:
● Time Is Critical: In a fire emergency, every second counts. A delayed hydrant could cause devastating delays in stopping a fire.
● Prevention is Key: Clearing snow from hydrants helps firefighters quickly hook up hoses and put out a fire before it gets out of control.
● Community Support: By helping, you contribute to the safety of your entire neighborhood. Your actions could mean the difference between a quick, contained fire and a full-scale disaster.

What You Can Do:
● Clear at least a 3-foot radius around the hydrant to ensure easy access for firefighters.
● Shovel away snow so that the hydrant is visible and free of any obstruction.
● Help your neighbors: If you see a hydrant near someone who may not be able to clear it themselves, offer a hand.
Let’s work together this winter to protect our community. A few minutes of effort today can save lives tomorrow.

Reminder:
It is considered illegal for a snow plow contractor/driver to push snow near or onto a fire hydrant. Please ensure your snow plow contractor does not block a fire hydrant.

The Town of Greece Fire Departments
Firefighters from Barnard, North Greece, Lakeshore, and Ridge Road Fire District work together every day for our community, we are dedicated to serving our community through fire prevention, education, and swift emergency response. Our firefighters work tirelessly to ensure the safety of our residents, but we need your help to ensure we can act quickly in emergencies.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Battalion Chief Brian Gebo / Greece PIO
pio@rrfd.org