Community Corner

Danvers Couple Helps Detect Buried Hydrants

Mike and Jennifer Comeau have started helping out the Danvers Fire Department by searching for buried fire hydrants around town and marking them accordingly.

When they heard that there are fire hydrants covered under feet of snow, Mike Comeau and his wife Jennifer went into action. 

The Burley Street residents started this volunteer effort on Feb. 3 after hearing that the Fire Department needed help digging out fire hydrants.

Mike broke out his modified metal detector and started hunting for fire hydrants buried under snow around the downtown area. He marks them with a piece of spray-painted strapping usually, but digs out the ones that are mostly clear.

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He spoke with Acting Fire Chief Kevin Farrell and got a map of the 1,700 hydrants in town.

Mike helped found Sentry Alarm in Boston and was the VP in charge of engineering in 1977. He designed alarm systems at Sentry and then some years later, left and began Notice Alarm where he was mainly installing alarm systems. He now works on government security contracts, including software and communications.

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He said most of his work now ties him to the desk and so this is a way for him to get out and get some exercise. They spend most of the afternoon out looking for hydrants.

In addition to most people not digging out fire hydrants, even when they do, they often dig out just from the sidewalk side. The Fire Department needs to access the hydrant from the street. Also many times, people don't realize they need a three-foot radius clear around the hydrant for the firefighters to get the wrench on to open it up.


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