Borough fire chief talks hydrants at council workshop
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL FILE - A new hydrant at Emerick and Centre Streets on August 17, 2023.
SHENANDOAH – Shenandoah’s fire chief spoke to borough council at Monday night’s workshop about the ongoing hydrant replacement project.
Fire Chief Rick Examitas and Emergency Management Coordinator Michael Wasko were asked to speak at the workshop, which is public but not a voting council meeting, by Councilman Joe Gawrylik.
Examitas said that the vast majority of the hydrants Aqua Pennsylvania set out to replace are done.
“They got the main ones done on Main Street where they had issues with permits,” Examitas said. “They had some down in the Lost Creek area yet and I know they did a couple in Shenandoah Heights that were on their list.”
He said that the fire department didn’t have any issues because of the hydrants being out, adding that they didn’t have many issues prior, either.
“We are glad that they did replace the ones that they did,” Examitas said. “We’re thankful for what was done.”
Examitas did say that some hydrants were taken out, but that should not impact fire response.
“[In those areas with hydrants removed,] they still have enough hydrant protection,” Councilwoman Katie Catizone asked.
“Yes. In their general area, that is correct,” Examitas said. “Even though people would say ‘Hey, that was right by my house,’ the borough is equipped with enough of them that it isn’t going to affect [operations or firefighting capabilities.]”
Examitas said that in many cases, there is a hydrant a block farther away with better water pressure available.
“We’re thankful. Aqua’s been working very well with us,” Examitas said. “Knock on wood, we haven’t had any fires that we’ve had to test the hydrants, so I’m proud of that, that our fire prevention is going very well in town.”
In total, Aqua replaced 37 inoperable hydrants as of last week. They initially said 45 hydrants were inoperable in August and bagged several more after that.
Aqua, one of the largest private water companies in America, purchased Shenandoah’s municipal water authority last July and said at the time that evaluating the hydrant system was a priority.
Some were replaced that in August, including some that had been missing for years.
The latest wave of replacements began in December.
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