Hydrants in order, chief says

DOWNTOWN TOLEDO - Toledo Fire Chief Mike Wolever said that fire hydrants are in working order and that a hydrant outside an Old West End historic home did not contribute to its destruction on June 9.

Wolever said the hydrant in question worked fine, but other factors were to blame. The water main, not the fire hydrant was an issue.

The four-inch line could not hold enough water needed to fight such a large, intense fire. Other water mains in the city are three times as large.

Chief Wolever also said the water main had not been replaced since 1916, and that would be the water distribution center's responsibility to replace it.

Homeowner Barbie Harrison said a hydrant near home was not working and firefighters tried to find another one before her historic home burnt to the ground before daybreak June 9. While searching for another hydrant, the fire was left to breathe and grew out of control.

"If I can't get what I'm paying for, give me my money back!," she said during Tuesday's city council session at One Government Center.

The Harrisons and her supporters were fired up about the loss of her home. They're blaming the fire department, but Chief Wolever said his department did what it could to save the home.

As for the hydrants, citizens were told that the 12,600 hydrants in Toledo are inspected twice a year, and only about 10 are currently out of service.

Harrison, though, is not happy with the answers she received.

"I'm not satisfied," she said. "I have more questions. The response I heard today raises deeper concerns and deeper questions for me."

Harrison added she's prepared to fight a long time until she gets the service she's paying for through her taxes. She also wants to make sure that Toledo's fire hydrants and water mains are, in fact, regularly checked for service as the chief says they are.