Fire departments: Residents need to shovel area around hydrants

PORTAGE, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Fire departments around west Michigan have a simple message for homeowners: shovel a three-foot wide circle around fire hydrants.

Officials say that small step will save firefighters a lot of time when responding to a fire because they won’t need to take that step.

Portage Public Safety Battalion Chief Bill Graham says every second matters when they are battling flames, and needing to dig out a hydrant can mean people have a greater chance of dying.