TEMPE, AZ (AZFamily) — As wildfires burn uncontrolled in Los Angeles County and critics level fingers at authorities failures, town of Tempe needs to reassure those who it’s prepared for any emergency.
One drawback was fire hydrants ran dry whereas firefighters battled the Palisades and Eaton Fires. Some crews might solely watch as homes went up in flames due to an absence of water.
Tempe issued a press release on Friday saying that Tempe Water Utilities retains thousands and thousands of gallons of water by means of its system always for firefighters to make use of.
“This water is in reserve – it’s not used except completely vital, and it’s by no means wasted,” officers mentioned.
Tempe has about 10,000 hearth hydrants that cowl town’s 40 sq. miles.
Crews do preventative upkeep on every hydrant at the least as soon as each three years and examine often-used hydrants extra often, leaders mentioned.
Officers mentioned the Tempe Hearth Medical Rescue Division has the best attainable Insurance Service Office rating, which charges hearth departments and communities on how nicely they will deal with fires.
In 1997, the division turned the primary internationally accredited hearth division, they usually have stored that accreditation ever since.
As of 2019, TFMR has an ISO score of 1, the perfect score within the system, which means decrease residence insurance coverage premiums.
The Tempe Hearth Medical Rescue Division additionally has weekly coaching to verify crews are ready for any emergency, from hazardous supplies response to water rescues.
The town can be a part of the Regional Automated Help System, a partnership among the many 23 hearth departments within the Valley. So meaning the closest firefighters reply to an emergency, irrespective of which metropolis it’s in.
County and state-level officers are prepared to assist if there’s a large-scale catastrophe.
“Whereas nobody can count on tragedies equivalent to what is occurring in California, the Metropolis of Tempe has taken motion to be prepared and reactive,” officers mentioned.
FULL COVERAGE: Wildfires rage across Los Angeles County
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