Ordinary Maine

This time of year is very busy for Fire Fighters. Not only to they have their normal duties which include protecting you and your home, but winter places the additional burden of making sure that fire hydrants are cleared of snow so they can be used in an emergency.-Think about how many hydrants thier are in your neighborhood and realize there are many, many hydrants in this city.

Last year Camden asked me about the colorful sticks that he often found on fire hydrants. I explained that they were used by Fire Figthers to locate hydrants that were buried in the winter snow so they could be shoveled free. He then asked who did all that work? When I told him that firefighters often go out and shovel the hydrants he looked around and noted that was a lot of work.


As the first storm of the season beared down on us, Camden asked if we could help the firefighters? His current career aspiration is to be a police officer, but his maternal grandfather was a Fire Captain and he loves to stop by the Mechanic Street Station and see the Fire Trucks when we are out on our walks. I told him that we could make a big difference by adopting the hydrant up the street to shovel during the winter.

Now keep in mind, Camden just turned five last week and I knew I too, was making a commitment when he decided he wanted to adopt a hydrant. I know that fire fighters appreciate it when they go out on a shovel detail and they find hydrants maintained by the citizens. It lets them know they are appreciated and that the people they protect care about the job they do in the community. So after the next snowfall, take some time to shovel a hydrant near you and let a Fire Fighter know you appreciate their service.

Great Community Service!

Tony