Fire Hydrants

Four Washington County volunteer fire companies recently received grants totaling almost $6,000 from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service. The following companies received grants: ·: Hancock - $2,000 · Williamsport - $1,761 · Maugansville - $1,100 · Sharpsburg - $1,085 The grants will be used to focus on increasing capacity for wildland fire suppression needs in rural communities. Projects will include wildland personal protective equipment, skid units for building brush trucks, replacing small diameter fire hose, upgrading communications equipment, purchase of Class A foam, installation of dry fire hydrants, and other equipment to enhance wildfire suppression.

BOONSBORO - Fire hydrants in Boonsboro will be flushed from Wednesday to Sept. 28, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each weekday, beginning on the north end of town, working in side streets and developments, and finishing on the south end of town. Residents might experience fluctuations in water pressure and some sediment in the water. Residents might want to refrain from washing clothes during this time due to discolored water conditions that might occur during the maintenance procedure.

Piling snow up around fire hydrants when clearing sidewalks and parking spaces could result in a tragedy, according to a fire company officer in Washington County. "There could be serious problems if that snow freezes and the hydrants can't be used," said Dave Myers, assistant chief Sharpsburg Fire Company. Myers said he saw several examples of snowed-in hydrants on Main Street in Sharpsburg Saturday morning and was going to notify State Highways Administration officials. "If there would be a freeze and we couldn't get to the water, there could be grave consequences," Myers said.

HAGERSTOWN -- The Hagerstown Fire Department is requesting that residents who live near fire hydrants check to make sure the hydrants are not covered by snow, and shovel them out if necessary, Hagerstown Fire Chief Gary Hawbaker said. "With as much snow as we had, they can be plowed under and we're not able to see them," Hawbaker said. The fire department has maps that show where the hydrants are, but finding the exact spot in a large snow bank can be difficult, Hawbaker said.

MERCERSBURG, Pa. ? A man who volunteered with the Mercersburg, Montgomery, Peters & Warren Volunteer Fire Co. has been charged with breaking into the fire station and vandalizing it, police said. Pennsylvania State Police said Paul Jennings, 19, of 11 Oregon St., Mercersburg, entered the fire station at about 12:45 a.m. Wednesday. While inside, he allegedly used a fire hydrant wrench to break two windows on a medical aid vehicle and the rear windows of an ambulance, police said in a news release.

Potter gives information on calls and arrests SMITHSBURG - The Smithsburg Police Department responded to 161 calls for service during the month of October, according to information released by the department. Officers made 16 arrests, including four on fugitive warrants, three for trespassing offenses and two each for driving while intoxicated and assaulting a police officer, police said. Police said two juvenile arrests were made in October, as well. Chief Michael Potter said having more adults arrested than juveniles is atypical.

Fire department volunteer charged MERCERSBURG, Pa. - A man who volunteered with the Mercersburg, Montgomery, Peters & Warren Volunteer Fire Co. has been charged with breaking into the fire station and vandalizing it, according to a Pennsylvania State Police press release. Paul Jennings, 19, of 11 Oregon St. in Mercersburg, was charged with burglary, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, institutional vandalism, underage drinking, unauthorized use or opening of fire hydrants and two counts of injuring or tampering with fire apparatus, police said.

Contract to build Mount Aetna water tank approved A contract to build a water storage tank in Mount Aetna was awarded Tuesday by the Washington County Commissioners to PSI Pumping Solutions Inc. of York Springs, Va. PSI Pumping Solutions Inc. submitted the low bid of $265,100 for the contract. The other bidder, Callas Contractors Inc. of Hagerstown, bid $308,000. The commissioners unanimously approved PSI Pumping Solutions' bid. The project will include building and installing a 105,000-gallon water storage tank, yard piping and pump; removal and installation of a 6-foot high fence; and the installation of fire hydrants and concrete pads.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A Tuesday morning barn fire off Winebrenner Road might have been caused by hay bales that apparently were somewhat wet when stored in the structure a few weeks ago, said Marty Roberts, chief of the Baker Heights Volunteer Fire Department. Emergency dispatchers were notified at 6:03 a.m. of the fire at 890 Winebrenner Road after one of the owners reported smelling burning hay, officials said. Roberts estimated damage was less than $10,000, and "roughly 50 to 80 roll bales" were removed from the barn with hay forks mounted on two tractors, he said.

By DON AINES Staff Writer, Martinsburg MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - The Berkeley County Commission Thursday approved an ordinance for its address conversion project. Mary Kackley, the county's 911 director, said field verification work, which began Tuesday, will take "about six to eight weeks to do the entire county, including the municipalities. " Crews will identify houses, businesses, schools, churches and all other buildings for the enhanced 911 system's database. The address conversion was the subject of a two-hour public meeting Wednesday where several people in a crowd of about 60 asked the county to help pay for the replacement of road signs in private developments.