North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue service has warned of the dangers of misusing fire hydrants after two firms were fined for illegally attaching pipes to fire hydrants.
Their actions could have damaged the fire hydrants, which could put lives at danger should a firefighter need to use them, only to find they will not work. A recent fire on a house boat on the River Ouse in York showed how dangerous severe fires can be, as 30 firefighters were needed to tackle the blaze, reports yorkshirepost.co.uk.
Peter Hudson, the group manager for prevention and protection at North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, explained just how dangerous the crime is.
“Individuals or companies who use hydrants illegally are acting irresponsibly and can put the lives of local residents at risk,” he said. “If they damage the hydrants and we are not aware of the defect, it can cause us delays in getting water to an incident if needed.”
According to yorkpress.co.uk, Jordan Road Surfacing Ltd in Newark and John Rome Ltd in Kilmarnock have been fined for attaching an illegal standpipe to a fire hydrant – both pleaded guilty to the charges.
Jordan Road Surfacing Ltd was fined £750 and must pay an additional £750 in costs, as well as surcharges on top. John Rome Ltd however had already been cautioned for a similar offence earlier in the year and therefore must pay £1,700 in fines for the two charges, £1,725 in costs and £170 in surcharges.