SPRINGFIELD SCHOOLS Fire chief stresses need for close hydrants

A pond near the schools would be used to provide water for the hydrants.
By VIRGINIA ROSS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW MIDDLETOWN -- Springfield Township Fire Chief Brian Hughes said if a serious fire were to hit the Springfield Local School District complex, he's concerned the building and most of its contents could not be saved.
"Basically, we wouldn't have enough water for a serious situation," he said. "It could be a real problem."
On Tuesday, Hughes asked the school board to consider allowing the fire department to place two fire hydrants near a pond that is on school property. The school board agreed to place the request on the June 10 meeting agenda and vote on the matter then.
Road planned
Meanwhile, at the school board's regular meeting Tuesday, Hughes told the school board the fire department would create a narrow road that would provide access to the pond.
So, if a fire emergency were to occur at the school, water from the pond would be available to firefighters. He said the new road would be covered with gravel, but eventually the fire department hopes to have it paved. He said the work would be funded through various grants and there would be no cost to the school district.
"Again, if anything major were to happen at the school, a major fire, we couldn't put it out with the water we would have available to us," he said. "By placing the fire hydrants at the pond, we would have access to that water and have more water to work with."
Addressing another issue, Hughes asked the school board to consider allowing the fire department and the township's bicentennial committee to present a fireworks display at the soccer field June 28. The event would be part of the township's bicentennial activities. The school board indicated that request would also be included on the June 10 meeting agenda.