Queens Gazette

Reminder: Open Hydrants Illegally And Go To Jail




In light of the heat wave expected thiw week, city officials are reminding Queens residents who open fire hydrants without an FDNY “spray cap” that they could face a stiff fine – or find themselves behind bars.

Officials at the city Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are again warning Queens residents that opening a fire hydrant without a spray cap can lower water pressure and make it difficult for firefighters to extinguish fires.

DEP officials also warned that the powerful force of 1,000 gallons per minute from an open hydrant could cause injury to young children.

DEP officials are sending enforcement agents into neighborhoods throughout Queens to track down offenders reported to the 311 system and others caught using hydrants without the approved spray caps, agency officials said.

Police and firefighters will also be on the lookout for offenders, the officials said. Both cops and firefighters will turn off hydrants and report offenders to DEP for enforcement, officials said.

City approved spray caps, which limit spray to about 25 gallons of water per minute, may be obtained free by adults 18 or over, at firehouses throughout Queens.

DEP officials are urging residents to obtain one of the spray caps to avoid a possible $1,000 fine – and jail time.

 

                                               



Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.