TEMPE, AZ (AZFamily) — As wildfires burn uncontrolled in Los Angeles County and critics level fingers at authorities failures, town of Tempe needs to reassure people who it’s prepared for any emergency.
One downside was fire hydrants ran dry whereas firefighters battled the Palisades and Eaton Fires. Some crews may 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 way of its system always for firefighters to make use of.
“This water is in reserve – it isn’t used until completely essential, and it’s by no means wasted,” officers mentioned.
Tempe has about 10,000 fireplace 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 steadily, leaders mentioned.
Officers mentioned the Tempe Fireplace Medical Rescue Division has the best doable Insurance Service Office rating, which charges fireplace departments and communities on how properly they’ll deal with fires.
In 1997, the division turned the primary internationally accredited fireplace division, and so they have saved that accreditation ever since.
As of 2019, TFMR has an ISO score of 1, one of the best score within the system, which means decrease dwelling insurance coverage premiums.
The Tempe Fireplace Medical Rescue Division additionally has weekly coaching to ensure crews are ready for any emergency, from hazardous supplies response to water rescues.
The town can also be a part of the Regional Automated Support System, a partnership among the many 23 fireplace 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 anticipate tragedies comparable to what is going on 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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