Fire Safety

You walk up to five older gentlemen who are discussing that they were in the Korean war protecting our country.  As their conversation continues, it brings you to the present, where they are in the year 2001 standing with other neighbors picketing for what most communities take for granted - working fire hydrants in their community.

Last year Rosebud, a community of 900 families owned by Bud Zeman, discovered that in Illinois communities built before 1997 did not need to disclose to homeowners or local fire departments if fire hydrants were maintained, even when newly painted red.  As reported in our last publication, meetings were held in Springfield dealing with fire hydrant issues. New regulations will included:

1. Documentation notifying local fire departments or other entities capable of analyzing the flow, allowing test results to be available for Health Departments upon requests.
2. Paint hydrants a color that will indicate that hydrants are not acceptable for fire fighting use.
3. Residents of manufactured home communities shall be advised in writing by landlord within 30 days of discovery on non-working hydrants.  Landlords are also required to notify the correct agencies.
4. Communities that do not have hydrants must be advised, along with local fire departments, within 60 days of adoption of these amendments.
5. Fire protection must be provided for new communities, including 6 inch water mains, and shall be designed to maintain conditions for flow of water to hydrants.