Hot Button Feedback: Locked Fire Hydrants

(The following Hot Button Feedback is part of an ongoing series of commentaries from KPLC viewers.  It does not necessarily represent the views of the staff or management of KPLC and is presented as a public service.)

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Hello, I'm John Latham of Lake Charles.

Recently we all learned of a policy that had been put into place in southern Calcasieu Parish of locking fire hydrants to prevent the fire department from using them.  If I had not heard of it on the news myself I would have not have believed it.

There is actually a company that manufactures fire hydrant locks?  And even worse there are some people that thought that using them was a good idea! 

As a result of what appeared to be internal politics between Calcasieu and Cameron parishes, a family had to stand helplessly while their property burned to the ground.

While the dispute over which parish the water belongs to appears to have been resolved I cannot help but wonder what other essential public services we all take for granted that might be unavailable without the knowledge of the general public.  What other smoking guns are out there that could be lying in wait for the citizens of Southwest Louisiana?

I suppose that you could say that the case of locking the fire hydrants is a prime example of our tax dollars NOT at work.

I'm glad the two parishes have addressed this particular issue.  Now I hope all local, parish and state officials in our area will do a complete inventory of all services they provide the public.  I bet locked fire hydrants aren't the only dumb traditions we've inherited.  Let's fix the others before they hit the news headlines.

Thank you.

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Dear KPLC viewers,

Do you have a reply to this Hot Button Feedback or a new Hot Button topic you'd like KPLC to consider?  Please @mail it to hotbutton@kplctv.com. We may post it here, use it in a future Hot Button, or ask you to record your own "Hot Button Feedback" to be seen on KPLC and kplctv.com.

Thanks,

Jim Serra, chairman, KPLC Editorial Board

Comments

[Jeffrey Jouett]

I would like to set the record straight on the issue of Fire Hydrant Locks as it seems there has been some inaccurate information supplied to KPLC and its viewers.

First and foremost, the 12” water line that was laid from the Lake Charles Airport to the Cameron Parish / Calcasieu Parish line was funded by Cameron Parish residents (Grand lake Waterworks District 11) in the amount of $1,500,000.00 not southern Calcasieu Parish residents and therefore belongs to Cameron Parish Residents. Agreements between Cameron and Calcasieu Parish Police Jury’s are in place which allowed Cameron Parish Waterworks District 11 to secure the water system and run a 5 mile trunk line to supply “CLEAN, SAFE DRINKING WATER” to the communities in upper Cameron Parish.

Second, the flush valves (fire hydrants) that are currently in place were never intended to supply fire protection to Calcasieu Parish residents but only to be used as flushing points. The fire hydrant lock system has been a policy of District 11 for more than 4 years. The fire hydrant locks are put in place based on the rural nature of the water system location where water theft is a common occurrence.

In your Hot Button commentary Mr. Latham states that “I suppose that you could say that the case of locking the fire hydrants is a prime example of our tax dollars NOT at work”.

It is not your TAX dollars (Calcasieu Parish); it is the tax dollars of Cameron Parish Residents and I would say that our tax dollars are at working just fine. Does it make since to you that residents of Cameron Parish pay this large sum of money and Calcasieu Parish residents get the use of it for FREE?

In closing Cameron Parish Waterworks district 11 has always had a positive relationship with the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury in fact we supply drinking water to many Calcasieu Parish residents along the parish line at this time. Finally, Cameron Parish Waterworks district 11 has agreed to temporarily allow the use of the Flush valves in the event of a fire along the Gulf Highway while alternative solutions are being explored.

Jeffrey Jouett
Board President
Cameron Parish Waterworks District 11

[Greg Haugen]

Mr. Jouett's remarks basically justify what Mr. Latham said. No matter how you decorate it Mr. Jouett, a family lost their home. The fire department was not aware that the things were locked up. An unavailable public service is scary. Especially one that we take for granted. Now when I'm driving around I look for fire hydrants that have been locked shut. Mr. Latham has made me and everyone I know aware of what has happened and what could possibly go wrong in the future.

Greg Haugen
Lake Charles.