Firefighters in areas with water restrictions are keeping a watchful eye on water use for the Fourth of July weekend to ensure they have enough supply to fight the influx of holiday fires.
“If we get in the position where we need extended firefighting, we would turn off the water in neighborhoods,” said Howard County Utilities Chief Robert Beringer. “That?s not the way to spend the Fourth of July.”
Firefighters in Howard and Anne Arundel counties are operating with water restrictions because of limitations from a 54-inch water main being repaired in Baltimore County. Restrictions in parts of Western Baltimore County were lifted Thursday.
“We?re trying to get everyone to be reasonable. It?s a high consumption weekend,” said Jim Irvin, chief of the Howard County Department of Public Works.
In Howard County, if one large fire or two small fires occur, water would be shut down in a nearby neighborhood. Last year, 12 structure fires occurred in the county on the Fourth of July.
Anne Arundel County has adequate water supply, but the Department of Public Works “will be watching our tanks closely over the weekend,” said Pam Jordan, spokeswoman for the Anne Arundel County Land Use and Environmental Office.
The Baltimore City Fire Department doesn?t have water restrictions, but still plans to be keep a watchful eye.
Last year, in Baltimore?s Inner Harbor, many people used illegal fireworks in the crowded streets, which caused a fire hazard, said Roman Clark, aide to chief of the Baltimore City Fire Department. However, only four fires occurred there on July Fourth, 2005.
“In having large crowds of people, some people are going to have fireworks in their pockets,” said Roman Clark, spokesman for Baltimore City Fire Department.
Carroll and Harford counties do not have water restrictions and are not planning extra precautions for the weekend, said Carroll County Emergency Management Planner Bill Hall and Harford County Emergency Planner Linda Ploner.
