The Mercer Island Fire Department (MIFD) would like to remind residents that every second counts when your home is on fire — even more so if you or a family member are inside — and that firefighters need clear access to fire hydrants closest to any potential incident. Many hydrants on the Island are obscured by bushes, covered by dirt or too close to trees to be effective.

“You want the closest fire hydrant to be visible and available for rapid connection by the fire department so they can extinguish the fire quickly. That has been a significant challenge lately due to landscaping,” according to an MIFD news release.

Recently, MIFD responded to two house fires where the nearest hydrant was either blocked by landscaping or didn’t have the clearance needed for easy access. Firefighters are trained to connect to a hydrant in less than one minute. But in both of these instances, that time rose two- or three-fold due to access issues. Luckily for the homeowners, the delayed water supply didn’t impact the outcomes and all were safe.

With modern homes containing far more synthetic furnishings, the time to spontaneous combustion (known as “flashover”) has dropped significantly.

“In a current home, flashover can happen in three minutes and 40 seconds. An older home with all natural fibers and solid wood furnishings may take over 20 minutes to flashover,” according to the release. “If you add the time it takes to call 911 and have the fire engine at your front door, the fire may be at or near flashover. A delay in the water supply could mean the difference between life and death.”

Even though all MIFD engines carry 500 gallons of water, that supply can be discharged in just 30 seconds at full volume, and connecting to a hydrant is critical.

MIFD asks that residents with private fire hydrants on their property take the time to clear it, and that those with a public hydrant or hydrant on an easement report it to the fire department.

MIFD will report the issue to Public Works, which will coordinate with homeowners on the best steps to take to properly fix any clearance issues.

“It’s a system that is in place for your safety,” the release states. “Take care of it and it will take care of you.”

Make sure that any hydrant near your house is up to fire code. The requirements are:

• Three feet of clearance around the hydrant

• At least 18 inches above dirt to the lowest port

• Visible from 75 feet down the street

Contact the MIFD with questions at mi_fire@mercergov.org, or call 206-275-7607.