Photo: Broken fire hydrant in New York City.
Mayor Shari Pierce: “Justin, do you know when these hydrants were last tested?”
Mr. Ramsey: “Do you mean, ‘scheduled’? I mean, we’re opening hydrants all the time, to clear out of a water line, stuff like that. We haven’t had any problems with any hydrants up to this point. I don’t recall, since I’ve been [District Manager] that there’s been a scheduled testing program. The Fire District used to do the testing. I guess there were some problems, so we canceled that contract. But it’s been ten years, at least…”
This is part of a conversation between Pagosa Mayor Shari Pierce and Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District (PAWSD) Manager Justin Ramsey at a March 24 joint Town/County work session. Mr. Ramsey was sitting in the hot seat, because it was common knowledge among the elected leaders at the meeting that the community has no ongoing inspection program for testing and maintaining our urban and suburban fire hydrants.
A decade ago, PAWSD had an agreement with the Pagosa Fire Protection District, to have the Fire District test the hydrants. That agreement was canceled when the testing crew caused damage to some water lines.
Disclosure: I currently serve as a volunteer member of the PAWSD Board, but this editorial reflects only my own opinions and not necessarily the opinions of other PAWSD Board members nor of the PAWSD staff.
I’ve lived in Pagosa for 32 years. I’ve never heard of an instance where the Fire District hooked up to a fire hydrant and failed to get enough water to fight the fire in question. But Mayor Pierce has a duty to insist that each and every fire hydrant be inspected on a regular basis.
Mayor Pierce: “Do you know how often, ideally, they should be tested?”
Mr. Ramsey: “I don’t know. That’s something we will have to discuss with the contractor…”
Mr. Ramsey is here referring to a professional hydrant testing contractor, with whom he’s been in contact.
Historically, the hydrants were paid for by various developers or governments during the creation of subdivisions, then installed by PAWSD and used, as needed, by the Pagosa Fire Protection District to fight fires, or by PAWSD for various incidental needs.
The Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) also has access to the hydrants, when fighting wildfires, to fill water trucks or other equipment. PAWSD provides the water at no cost, to the Fire District and to the ASCO.
But at the joint meeting, certain elected officials made it clear that they considered PAWSD responsible for testing the hydrants on a regular basis, even though the hydrants were originally installed to benefit the Fire Protection District.
Legally, the hydrants ‘belong’ to PAWSD.
Mayor Pierce: “You own the hydrants…”
Mr. Ramsey: “We own the hydrants. But we don’t have a schedule that we go down. We hit them as necessary, for maintenance, or for fixing lines, and for developments, such as that…”
Mayor Pierce: “So when will you be meeting with your Board to present this again?”
Mr. Ramsey: “Our next Board meeting is the second Thursday of the month.” That will be, April 10.
Mayor Pierce: “Will you come back to meet with us on April 14?” To provide an update on the plan? And maybe include the Fire District in the conversation?
Mayor Pierce noted that she had herself experienced a house fire, and had strong feelings about seeing a testing program put in place.
Commissioner Warren Brown asked Sheriff Mike Le Roux about the provision of water trucks in situations where the functionality of hydrants is uncertain. The Sheriff noted the comprehensively cooperative assistance coming from all government agencies whenever a fire needs to be fought. Earlier in the discussion, he had stated his reluctance to sign an MOU between PAWSD and the ACSO, but now clarified his stance somewhat:
“Ultimately, I have a vested interest in this community… We will always say, ‘Yes’ to assist where we can. I’m not for one second saying that we’re not going to be part of this testing in some way shape or form, when we can. We may have labor available when we’re not busy fighting fires… we can all work together to make sure this happens…”
Commissioner John Ranson: “I agree with the Mayor. I think this is the most important issue we’re looking at. Just because of the weather.”
He then addressed one of the PAWSD Board members…sitting in the audience. Me.
“Bill, I know you can’t speak for the PAWSD Board; I’ve read that several times in your editorials… But as one person, is this a high priority?”
I responded: “Is this a high priority? Yes, it’s a high priority… for the whole community to come together and deal with it.”
A bit later in the meeting, Commissioner Veronica Medina asked about my response.
“Bill, you stated that you’re not speaking on behalf of PAWSD, but you said, ‘the community’. It’s the community’s responsibility. So you don’t think PAWSD has a responsibility?”
I gave Commissioner Medina my assurances: “Oh, we’re part of the community. Yes we are.”
PAWSD is very much a part of the community.
There are two major elements of a functioning fire hydrant. The actual mechanical hydrant itself… and the water that feeds it. Since 1972, PAWSD has been making sure that water is available to the 1,140 hydrants in the community, so that the Pagosa Fire Protection District can be assured of that crucial element. Every mechanical hydrant found to be non-functioning has been replaced, by PAWSD. Thanks to our customers, water has been consistently available, at no cost to the Fire District, through wet and dry years.
I think the fact that, reportedly, the Fire Protection District has done zero testing of the mechanical element for at least ten years, speaks to the Fire District’s relationship to the community it serves.
I think the fact that the Town and County governments have shown zero interest in the maintenance of the community’s fire hydrants, for at least the past couple of decades, speaks to their relationship to the community, and to the infrastructure they consider most important. Shiny new County and Town buildings. Pedestrian bridges. Put-ins for tourists bearing rented inner tubes. Trails. Airport improvements. Tourist-friendly signage.
In January, the media presented us with coverage of a horrendous wildfire disaster in Los Angeles County, and many of us were compelled to think, “This same thing could happen here.”
Could it?
And if it did, what role would our fire hydrants play?