Adopt-A-Hydrant Program Launched – Nov. 14th, 2018
The Mountain Lakes Volunteer Fire Department Adopt-A-Hydrant program is launched!!!
You can (still) adopt a hydrant!
The winter months bring concerns to the Mountain Lakes Volunteer Fire Department. Winter storms that bring heavy snow along that make it hard to almost impossible to quickly identify and use fire hydrants in an emergency. Important minutes are lost when firefighters need to shovel out a hydrant for water supply to fight fires. National studies show that for firefighters to find and access an obstructed hydrant can take 5-10 minutes once we arrive on scene.The Volunteer men and women of the Mountain Lakes Fire Department, your neighbors, do their best to clear hydrants in town. However, with over 230 hydrants it takes days to finish the task. We are calling on our residents and businesses to help us keep hydrants clear in order to provide you with the emergency services everyone wants.
When you adopt a hydrant the “adoptee’s” name will be placed on the hydrant.
Responsibilities of adopting a hydrant
- Keep 3-foot clearance on all sides of the hydrant
- Report damaged hydrants
- Keep free of brush and leaf piles
Click here for the hydrant map link.
The adoption form is located here: Adopt-A-Hydrant Form
About the Fire Department
In 2016, the Mountain Lakes Volunteer Fire Department celebrated its 100th anniversary. Over the years, hundreds of residents of Mountain Lakes have proudly served the department and the community. The first Chief of the MLVFD, William Lewis, served from 1916-1926. Since then, thirty-one members have proudly served the department as Chief. Numerous members have served the department for decades, including one who has served for fifty-seven years. For nearly fifty years, the Mountain Lakes Volunteer Fire Department has also had an active junior fire department consisting of high school juniors and seniors.
The Fire Department responded to 168 calls during 2018. These calls included structure fires, car fires, brush fires, weather related emergencies, and providing assistance to our mutual aid departments and the police department. The Senior Department held 44 drills in 2018. The Junior Department held twenty-two drills in 2018. Call response, training, 50 meetings and community events accounted for over 6000 person-hours.
In addition to responding to a variety of calls and monthly training, the MLVFD also kept busy with sponsoring or participating in over 24 community events. Some events include the annual Memorial Day parade, Little League parade, Mountain Lakes Day, 4th of July, visiting the pre-schools and Wildwood School during fire prevention week, the Christmas tree lighting, and escorting Santa Claus around town on the fire engine during the Christmas season.
The Mountain Lakes Volunteer Fire Department is always in need of eager volunteers to serve the community. The members of the department are your friends and neighbors. Please consider joining us today!
