McMinnville Fire Department Begins Testing Fire Hydrants

The McMinnville Fire Department and Water Department began their annual fire hydrant testing Monday.

The fire department’s goal is to ensure safety in the area by testing the hydrants. Chief Kendall Mayfield said testing should last multiple weeks.

“It is to make sure that the hydrants are in a good working position and then we can take the reading off of it and tell how much water we can get out of it if we need to hook on to it,” Mayfield said.

Mayfield said their use of equipment helps them test the hydrants easier and quicker. He said individual hydrant testing lasts approximately three minutes.

“It usually lasts about three minutes from the time we turn it on to the time we turn it off, anywhere from 3-5 minutes,” Mayfield said.

Mayfield said the testing allows them to guarantee each of the hydrants will work sufficiently when needed. He said occasionally they need to shut down a road temporarily to make sure everyone stays safe.

Mayfield asks everyone to be cautious when fire trucks are on the roadways.