Turning off Fire Hydrants in the Name of Terrorism
This really pegs the stupid meter:
He explains all the district’s hydrants, including those in Alexander Ranch, have had their water turned off since just after 9/11—something a trade association spokesman tells us is common practice for rural systems.
“These hydrants need to be cut off in a way to prevent vandalism or any kind of terrorist activity, including something in the water lines,” Hodges said.
But Hodges says fire departments know, or should have known, the water valves can be turned back on with a tool.
One, fires are much more common than terrorism—keeping fire hydrants on makes much more sense than turning them off. Two, what sort of terrorism is possible using working fire hydrants? Three, if the water valves can be “turned back on with a tool,” how does turning them off prevent fire-hydrant-related terrorism?
More and more, it seems as if public officials in this country have simply gone insane.
Phillip • September 11, 2008 2:16 PM
I don’t know enough about the fire hydrant system, but is it on the same system as the drinking water? If so, one could try to stuff something solid into it that would dissolve and spread into the normal water system. Overcoming the back pressure would be a huge obstacle. It’s one of those “in theory”…but good luck trying to do it thing.