Heatwave plea not to set off fire hydrants
Scottish Water joins the Fire Service to raise awareness after almost 40 incidents in the last month
Scots are being warned to avoid setting off fire hydrants following a spate of incidents in Glasgow and Edinburgh because it can lead to widespread disruption and put lives at risk.
The call from Scottish Water and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and follows about 40 incidents of fire hydrant vandalism recorded in the past four weeks.
The incidents have caused disruption to water supply to customers, reduced water pressure or discoloured water, and localised flooding in streets.
Not just dangerous, but illegal, too
They can also result in water supplies for firefighters being adversely impacted and so hamper their ability to tackle fires, with an increased risk to lives and property damage.
A child, who set off a fire hydrant recently, was injured by the force of the water pressure coming out of it.
Most of the incidents occurred in parts of the Glasgow and Edinburgh areas, including Parkhead, Rutherglen, and Niddrie.
£5000 fine
Tempering with or setting off these devices can, however, lead to a £5,000 fine, according to the Fire Scotland Act 2005.
Fire hydrants are a connection point to water mains and allow access to the water network, primarily for firefighting purposes.
Scottish Water has been seeing an increase in vandalism with warmer temperatures over the last few weeks.
The company has to devote extra resources whenever there is a number of incidents which can impact their ability to deal with other calls.
Deadly consequences
Kes Juskowiak, Scottish Water’s General Manager of Customer Water Services, said: “Some people who vandalise fire hydrants may see it as ‘harmless fun’ but that’s not the case.
“The reality is that as they play in the water, homes and businesses are suffering low water pressure or a loss of supply.
“Also, firefighters rely on these hydrants for fighting fires and a shortage of water could endanger people’s lives and property,” he added.
Area Commander Gordon Pryde, Head of Prevention and Protection at the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Tampering with or vandalising a fire hydrant is a criminal offence and could put lives at risk.
He added: “It is vital that our firefighters have access to operational hydrants to ensure fires are safely extinguished, ultimately protecting lives as well as people’s homes and businesses.
“We take this matter very seriously and ask that parents and carers warn children about the dangers of hydrant vandalism, to both themselves and their wider community.”