Clinton, Middlefield getting dry hydrants

— The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Division of Forestry reported that nine fire departments have completed the installation of dry hydrants, including two in Middlesex County.

These grants, funded in part by state fire assispress tance money, helped fund the cost of installing 11 dry hydrants by the Clinton Volunteer Fire Department, Middlefield Fire Co. and others, according to a press release.

“These dry hydrants provide invaluable water supply when pressurized fire hydrants are not an option or when additional water is required to supHARTFORD difficult and/or large fires,” Chris Martin, DEEP Directory of Forestry, said in a prepared statement.

“These federal funds have been made available through the U.S. Forest Service State Fire Assistance Program, which allows for a $1,500 costshare reimbursement for the installation of each dry hydrant.”

The U.S. Forest Service, through State Fire Assistance and Volunteer Fire Assistance programs, provides financial support to individual states. These programs help the DEEP Division of Forestry enhance the firefighting capacity of local fire departments throughout Connecticut, the release said.

Grants provided through these programs are cost shared and allow local matching funds to leverage the federal investment. The Division of Forestry has been distributing federal funds for dry hydrant installation since 2001, which has assisted with over 250 installations throughout the state.

Contributed photo Dry hydrants provide a water supply when pressurized fire hydrants are not an option.