NIAGARA FALLS, NY - The Niagara Falls Water Board has finally released its list of broken fire hydrants in the city - a public safety issue 2 On Your Side has stayed on top of for months.
We asked the water board over a month ago for that list, which they have now released.
In February, 2 On Your Side filed the request to get the list of broken fire hydrants in Niagara Falls, so residents would know. At that point about 45 fire hydrants were out across the city.
Now, the water board has released a list of 9 hydrants that remain broken.
Earlier this year, under new leadership, the water board focused on getting broken fire hydrants throughout Niagara Falls fixed. At that point, there were about 150 inoperable hydrants frustrating firefighters.
When the water board got down to about 45 hydrants, we requested a list of where they were, but the water board would not tell us.
So, 2 On Your Side filed a Freedom of Information request, which the water board did not answer until now.
The remaining hydrants out of service are located on some major roads in the Falls, such as Pine Avenue and Niagara Falls Boulevard.
Here's the full list as of Monday morning:
- Royal Avenue and G Street
- 410 39th Street
- 3719 Pine Avenue and 38th Street
- 605 Chilton Avenue and Whirlpool Street
- Seneca Avenue and Lockport Street
- 3100 9th Street
- 7560 Niagara Falls Boulevard and 76th Street
- 99th Street and Colvin Boulevard
- 468 102nd Street
The fire department says it already knows where the bad hydrants are, before they respond to a call.
2 On Your Side asked the water board for an interview on all this, but the water board declined and says it'll have a press conference when all the fire hydrants are fixed in the next couple of weeks.
"The NFWB looks forward to celebrating an exciting milestone for the hydrant repair program in the very near future and will have further comment at that time," said Matt Davidson, an NFWB spokesman.
Once the hydrants are fixed, it will be the first time in 30 years that all fire hydrants will be operational in the City of Niagara Falls.