At 15:08 hrs (3:08 pm), Station 5 Ambulance was dispatched to the 200 block of Phoenixville Pike in front of Great Valley High school for an accident with unknown injuries. Within minutes, Captain 5 (J. Temple) and Ambulance 5-2 responded. Supplemental 9-1-1 calls indicated that a car had struck a fire hydrant and that the hydrant was reportedly “gushing.” With this information, Captain 5 requested Aqua PA to the scene, and added the fire department response to assist. Captain 5 arrived on scene and found an out of control hydrant shooting water 30 feet into the air. Fire/Rescue assisted in securing the area until Aqua PA could arrive, and fire police directed traffic around the incident.

This type of accident is highly unusual, as the hydrants located in Pennsylvania are considered “dry barrel” which means there is no water in the actual hydrant. The valve to access the water is located in the water main under the frost line so that in winter months, the hydrants don’t freeze and burst. The hydrants in the East Whiteland local are also “break away” equipped, so that in the event of an accident, they are supposed to break cleanly away instead of ripping up and breaking the pipe. In this accident’s case, the vehicle hit the hydrant with such force that it dislodged and broke the water main, causing the geyser.

Apparatus: Engine 5-2, Engine 5-3, Squad 5, Ambulance 5-2, Traffic 5

 Story and Photos by Mike Schon

News story on 6ABC:

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/gallery?section=news&id=7494369&photo=4