Perrysburg Twp. residents asked to shovel around hydrants

2/5/2014

Residents of northwest Ohio -- especially after the region was socked by another major snow storm today -- are being encouraged to shovel around any fire hydrants they have on their property so firefighters can easily locate them in the event of a blaze.

That plea was made specifically today to residents of Perrysburg Township by the township's fire chief, Tom Brice.

"We have a lot of buried hydrants," he said. "That can be hazardous if there is a fire in the area."

Chief Brice told trustees at their board meeting that the Perrysburg Township Fire Department is coming off one of its busiest months ever for medic and fire runs.

In January, the department had a combined 174 runs.

Foul weather pushed runs over the brink, the chief said.

The department is down to one working fire engine and coping with less manpower following the departures of two volunteers, Chief Brice said.

"It has been an interesting month," he said. "There's always been something to deal with."

The chief said he expects repairs to be finished on one of the department's trucks later this week, bringing two into service. He said he hopes the third, which is experiencing engine problems, is available within three weeks.

Also at the township board meeting, Walt Celley, township administrator, told trustees the Ohio Department of Natural Resources is expected to finish authorizing a mining permit to Wylie and Sons Landscaping this spring.

Mr. Celley has opposed the company's permit application, citing concerns about potential impacts to local roads and land.

The company, based at 27226 Glenwood Rd., requested the permit in May.

The Ohio DNR has approved part of the permit request, Mr. Celley said.

Contact Matt Thompson at: mthompson@theblade.com, 419-356-8786, or on Twitter at @mthompson25.