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Cleveland low water pressure at fire scene triggers fire hydrant quality assessment

Low water pressure hampers firefighting effort
Posted at 11:45 PM, Apr 28, 2017
and last updated 2017-04-28 23:45:40-04

A Wednesday fire on Cleveland's Allman Court now has the city conducting a quality assessment of all fire hydrants in the west side neighborhood.

City Councilman Kerry McCormack told News 5 the fire hydrant assessment was ordered after low water pressure at two hydrants hampered firefighting efforts during the Allman Court blaze, which injured three firefighters and a resident.

The water pressure issue had the Cleveland Division of Water on the scene Friday replacing one of the fire hydrants and critical valve.

Repairs were also made to the second fire hydrant near the burned out home.

Cleveland Metro North Block Leader Sandy Smith believes the fire raises serious questions about the condition of fire hydrants citywide.

Smith claims her street and neighborhood haven't had a fire hydrant inspection for nearly two years, even though Cleveland Fire Information Officer Larry Gray told News 5 the cities 18,000 hydrants should be inspected twice a year.

Gray said possible inspections on some hydrants could be missed but said less than 1 percent of Cleveland's hydrants are found to be broken.

Still, Smith is hoping a full investigation will be done on Cleveland fire hydrant quality.

News 5 will be asking for hydrant inspection and repair reports from the Cleveland Fire Department and the Cleveland Division of Water in the coming days.