The Elmira Arts Commission recently announced the Adopt-A-Fire Hydrant program in the City of Elmira.
According to the application, “Adopt a Hydrant is a public art project in the City of Elmira. Experienced, emerging or student artists are invited to
submit an application for a hydrant to paint. If accepted, a $100 fee is required to cover project-specific materials.
A “Best of Show” hydrant will be honored each season by the Elmira Public Art Commission. Don’t miss this
unique opportunity to make your creative mark on fire hydrants throughout the city!”
This sounds all well and good except for the fact that fire hydrants exists for the sole purpose of being used to provide water to put out fires in the community and are not meant to be used for artistic displays according to Chemung County Legislator Rodney J. Strange.
Strange understands the well meaning behind the idea but strongly believes that fire hydrants should not be painted a rainbow of colors simply to look attractive and be beautiful pieces of art. He believes that they should all be painted the exact same bright yellow color.
“Do not jeopardize the lives of our residents and our firefighters with this project. Fire hydrants are meant for one thing and one thing only, for use by firefighters to put out fires. Period,” Strange said. “There is a place for art but it is not on fire hydrants. Leave the hydrants alone!”
He is also infuriated for two other reasons. First, the fact that the Chief of the Elmira Fire Department opposed the plan but it went forward anyway and secondly, the rank and file firefighters were never asked or consulted about the program.
“I am stunned that the Elmira Public Art Commission dismissed the opinion of the Fire Chief and never sought the input of city firefighters,” Strange said. “These are the people whose job it is to use these hydrants to save property, and more importantly, to save lives. It is unconscionable to me that this could happen.”
The Elmira Water Board owns the hydrants and gave it’s permission for the city to go ahead with the program even after it learned of the firefighters objections to the plan.
Strange implores the Arts Commission and Elmira Water Board to end the program before it begins in April 2018.
“I strongly urge the Arts Commission and the Water Board to reverse their decision, listen to the firefighters and look at other objects in the community that would be a better suited to become vibrant works of art and enhance the beauty the city,” Strange said.
“The opinion of the firefighters is the only one that matters in this case. They put their lives on the line every time the alarm sounds. Their position on this, should and needs to be followed,” Strange concluded.
The Elmira Firefighters IAFF Local 709 released the following two statements on their Facebook page on September 22nd:
“As members of the community, the men and women of the Elmira Firefighters IAFF Local 709 have a vested interest in what goes on in the City of Elmira. While we are strong proponents of making the City a great place to live and visually appealing to the eye, we are not in favor of the current idea to paint the fire hydrants throughout the city. The fire hydrants are a vital part of our firefighting operations. We, as well as the citizens, rely on the fire hydrants to help in a time of need. As firefighters, we know when we pull up to a fire that a hydrant will be in such and such a place and that it will be yellow and we can easily spot it. Now imagine that it is 2 am and your house is on fire. The firefighters pull up to your house and have to look for a hydrant that, according to our maps is suppose to be here, but isn’t. Now we look around and are unable to locate it because it has been painted and mis-marked on the map. Currently we know that the hydrant is yellow, but from now on, it could be any color. Precious seconds are lost searching for a hydrant because it’s not the standard yellow color. In a chaotic scene such as a fire, every second counts. And having to search for a hydrant that is painted because someone thought that it was a good idea and pleasing to the eye is a bad idea. Our community expects and relies on the the firefighters to do everything in our power to help the community in its time of need, which we courageously accept. But handcuffing our efforts in the name of art is irresponsible and unacceptable. Perhaps, just this once, we could put the interests of the community’s safety and the firefighters’ safety ahead of political interests and figure out a different way to beautify the city without compromising safety.”
“We appreciate the opportunity to present out side. The commission did reach out to the Fire Chief, who was not for the program. Nonetheless, the Elmira Water Board, who owns the hydrants, allowed the program to go forward. We have reached out to the Commission and Councilman Stermer and had a productive conversation. Unfortunately at this time, the program will continue against our wishes. We will continue to push our concerns for the safety of the community and our members. We ask that those of you who agree with our position, to contact the Elmira Water Board and Elmira City Hall and let your voice be heard. Thank you all for your support. We truly appreciate it.”