Playing in the fire hydrant: how much trouble?

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We took Mo to a birthday party tonight and they (the hosts) opened the fire hydrant for the kids to play in.

What a blast!

I mean really a blast.

We used to do this when I was a kid but I haven't heard of anyone doing it for a long, long time.

How much trouble can you get into for doing this? (I'm thinking it might be worth it once in a while. Not if it means you could go to jail or anything but I'd be willing to pay a small fine.)

Do you know what the consequences are?

Have you ever played in an open fire hydrant on a scorching hot day? What was it worth to you?

Thanks!

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Consequences?

Decreased water pressure down the line when the fire fighters might need it.

I'm not sure what it's like where you are - but they're on dedicated water lines here - to keep the water at a a specified pressure, regardless of what else is going on in the city.

Not worth it to me in any way.

Seriously.

It's a real bugbear for me.

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I'm not sure what it's like here. I certainly don't want to keep the firefighters from being about to do their jobs! I'd better check that out.

Here water is an abundant rescource so it might be different.....

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One thing about fire plugs....the ones I'm familiar with, is that they need to be opened all the way, not just a few turns...it's all or nothing...it's just they way they are made. If they are partially turned on, water will blow out of the bottom as fast as it is coming out the top, resulting in loss of the soil that supports the base, or where they "T" into the main line. Then when you go to shut it off, it can break under the strain..usually deep in the ground.....and then you would be in trouble.

We have very sandy soil here, takes just a few seconds to blow a hole big enough to swallow a couch, if they are not cranked all the way open.

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boomerang wrote:

I'm not sure what it's like here. I certainly don't want to keep the firefighters from being about to do their jobs! I'd better check that out.

Here water is an abundant rescource so it might be different.....

No, it's the same everywhere. Tampering with a fire hydrant can reduce the ability to fight fires nearby by lowering the water pressure (which needs to be able to output above 250 gallons a minute to be considered functional).

But why worry about the fine? You may be held civilly liable for any of a number of dangers ranging from killing the kids to putting their eyes out.

Hundreds of kids have been treated in hospitals for injuries while playing in fire hydrants and I know of a few cases off the top of my head of them being killed in resulting traffic accidents.

I never did get using emergency equipment as toys. Why not just use a hose or something?

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Okay, okay. I won't do it. I promise. I've known a lot of firefighters and I know their job is tough enough without people making it harder.

I thought I made it clear in my opening post and in the very fact of asking the question that I wasn't willing to take a big risk for a little fun.

But didn't any of you ever play in a fire hydrant when you were kids?

We used to get to do it a couple of times a year. I don't remember who opened the hydrants but it didn't seem to be a serious offense. Maybe it was the fire department. I'll have to ask my mom.

And no, I don't remember anyone getting hurt ever.

And no one -- out of about 15 kids -- got hurt tonight.

A lot of times here they just dunk a hose into the nearest body of water, run it through a pump truck and spray. No hydrants involved.