If your car is dirty, you should wash it. You should not, however, park it at a fire hydrant and hope it gets clean as water cascades down onto. If that seems like common sense, it is. And we’re joking, because that’s technically not what actually happened at this particular hydrant, but you can imagine, right?
A crash is what had the water flowing from the fire hydrant in Visalia, as you can see in the clip, after a car struck it. Emergency crews were sent to the intersection after the hydrant was hit. Police kept the area clear so the crews on the scene could come in and do their thing. It doesn’t appear anyone was hurt, however, just pretty wet.
According to the Visalia Police Department, Cal Water was notified and sent crews to respond to the damaged hydrant to fix it up like new once more. The department asked people to avoid the area so emergency and utility workers could get things patched up. So as we said, the whole car wash idea? Really a no-go here.
There were scant details as far as what actually took place here. As far as the suspect goes, there were no details seemingly released about them, either. But we can say one thing with certainty: hitting a fire hydrant is a bad idea. Not only will you disrupt your own day, but you could tamper with an area’s important water supply for handling fires.
Why’s It a Bad Idea to Hit a Fire Hydrant
Well, there’s that whole impact thing. You really don’t want to mess your car up if you can help it. And you don’t want the embarrassment factor either. Because as you see in the video, people can and will film you. Really, it’s because you’ll make an enormous mess.
Hydrants are connected to pressurized water lines, and a hard enough hit can shear the whole thing off. That can send a huge geyser dozens of feet into the air. That’s not just a spectacle, either, because it’s more of an annoyance than anything else. It floods streets, damages nearby property, erodes soil around the break, and dumps thousands of gallons of treated water in minutes. In some cases the sudden pressure drop can even affect water service for a whole block, so you may even see people without water.
What You Should Do If You Accidentally Hit a Fire Hydrant
Make sure you’re safe, first. Don’t try to frolic in the water or anything. Move your vehicle out of traffic if it’s drivable. If you’re not standing in a flood zone, then turn on your hazards. If water is gushing, stay clear of the spray. The pressure alone can knock you off your feet and the water may be hiding hazards underneath.
Call it in as soon as you can. You should call your non-emergency line, or 911 if there’s an active geyser, flooding, or any injuries. The city needs to shut off the water main fast, and only they can do it. The sooner they know, the less damage piles up. If the hydrant is spraying, mention that specifically so someone can come out and fix it. Whatever you do, don’t just assume someone’s going to come magically running. Take responsibility and make sure you do your part.