With the potential of snow fall to increase in the coming weeks, the members of the Hartsdale Fire District would like to take a minute to advise you of a few steps you can take to better prepare yourself and your neighbors in the event of a fire, medical or police emergency. A few simple steps can help save your life and property.

One of the most basic needs of the emergency services is to be able to locate your residence or place of business. By ensuring that your numeric address is visible and easily identifiable to First Responders can drastically reduce response times. Check your premises to verify that your address is clearly identifiable and that your street address markers have not been inadvertently covered by snow.

Secondly, check all points of egress from your home, in particular any outward swinging doors to be sure they are clear of any snow and can operate freely. This will rapidly facilitate your exit in the case of a fire emergency and will allow for a quick entry on the part of firefighters.
We have all felt the crunch of narrowing streets due to the snow accumulation. This makes traversing roadways dangerous on a normal day, let alone in inclement weather. Parking your vehicle on the street may allow for enough room for another passenger vehicles to safely pass, but can a large piece of fire apparatus? It is imperative that roads be kept free of parked vehicles when possible or allow for enough clearance for fire apparatus to safely traverse the roadway. Remember that seconds count when it comes to fire or medical emergencies.

Lastly, if you are a resident of the Hartsdale Fire District and a fire hydrant is located on or adjacent to your property, please make every effort to clear away the snow so that firefighter access will not be hindered during an emergency. Additionally If your occupancy or business has a Fire Department Sprinkler or Standpipe Connection, please make sure it is accessible and clearly visible.

A good rule of thumb is to clear the area around the hydrant as shown in the picture attached. This will provide quick access and the space needed to apply the necessary appliances and hoses in the event of an emergency requiring its use. When time is of the essence, the delay created by having to clear a hydrant of snow can be dire. If you are unable to clear a hydrant or cannot locate it due to it being plowed over, don’t hesitate to call us at (914) 949-2325. We’d be happy to assist.