By Kim Hilsenbeck
In the Chaparral Park neighborhood, which dates back to the late 1970s, fire hydrants are only on every other street running north and south. Many private water systems, such as the one in Chaparral Park owned by Aqua Texas, call them flush valves. But they look just like fire hydrants.
Buda Fire Department Assistant Chief Gary Langshaw, who was in the Chaparral Park community early Saturday morning after a home was struck by lightning and caught on fire, said calling hydrants flush valves is confusing.
“You can’t just call those things flush valves if it looks like a hydrant,” he said.
But who is responsible for maintaining the water system hydrants? Are they useful in fire suppression? What happens if they don’t work when firefighters go to use them?
Those and other questions linger as private water companies are hesitant to take the lead on such issues. Some companies even painted their hydrants black, which supposedly meant they were not for fire suppression.
This past weekend, the issue came to light during the fire incident on Bluebird Drive.
The first valve/hydrant fire fighters tried to use was closed. Crews had to go two streets over to refill their tankers with water to continue fighting the fire. Much of the water used during that incident was trucked in by area fire departments.
Hays County Fire Marshal Mark Chambers, who was made award of the hydrant/valve issue, agreed that the valves should not look like traditional fire hydrants because it causes confusion, both to community residents and to fire fighters.
But with many private water companies unwilling to accept liability for fire suppression, it’s a complicated issue.
“They’re still…that’s vicarious liability whether you want it or not,” Chambers said.
He said the homeowner of the house on Bluebird Drive in Chaparral Park that was lost to fire Saturday morning is following up with several state agencies regarding the valves.
Questions/Concerns?
Anyone who has questions or concerns about state law regarding water system flush valves/fire hydrants may contact:
State Rep. Jason Isaac, District 45
jason.isaac@house.state.tx.us
512-463-0647
Read related story: Fires ravage Hays homes
