Deceptive Maneuver by Town of Buffalo!
DANGER! Your Home Could be at RISK!
UPDATE-- In early May 2010, a fire occurred in Buffalo to a detached garage facility.
Here's what was written by "anonymous" on the Onside Buffalo Blog:
before they found one that worked!
Good thing it was only a garage structure and not a home with an elderly
or disabled person in it. That kind of delay could cost lives!
I thought the Inside Buffalo guy was nuts but they called this one right."
I'd say Inside Buffalo has gained a new convert!
Continuing with the editorial commentary:
Another concerned citizen of Buffalo contacted us here at Inside Buffalo about the disturbing report from the Buffalo Fire Chief wherein there are so many fire hydrants in a state of disrepair or not functioning at all - 55% of the fire hydrants in the Town of Buffalo are failing or working at less than 100%. This fact disturbed them as it especially applied to a hydrant directly adjacent to their home.
Inside Buffalo was unable to provide the answers this person was looking for so we suggested they contact the Town of Buffalo directly. - They did just so.
This person was told by Buffalo’s Economic Development Director that there were no worries about the specific fire hydrant located in front of their home – all is well, everything was OK – the neighborhood fire hydrant they were worried about was working just fine.
This didn’t seem to satisfy this person’s curiosity because the report from the local Fire Department, written about in an article on March 4, 2009... HERE
(-Buffalo Fire Department's REPORT & MAP.)
...showed that the hydrant they were referencing, listed in red on the Department’s report, was BLOWING OUT THE TOP and was substandard. The specific hydrant failed to meet the requirements of the fire department.
The Town was going to show this person that the hydrant was working just fine so they sent one of the Town employees out to open the valve up and prove to this resident that the hydrant worked as they said it did – in other words, we’ll show you! – we’re going to ignore the fire department’s report on the condition of the many hydrants around town because we know better! We’re the Town after all. You’re just a resident here. How dare you question us - the Town?
Not many minutes later the employee of Buffalo showed up and did exactly as they said they would do – BUT FIRST - After sticking a "stick" or "piece of wood" in the top of the hydrant where the water would blow out the top, they showed this resident that water emerged from the hydrant just as they said it did! This employee of the Town even knocked on a neighbor’s door to show another person in the neighborhood that the hydrant worked just fine. Case Closed! Deed Completed. There was water running down the road so the hydrant was working just as the Town said it was! We showed you resident taxpayer person complaining to us – We are the Town of Buffalo – HA-HA SO THERE! – see it works!
Na-Na-Na-Na-Na!
PROBLEM!
A STICK!?!?! DECEPTION EXPOSED!
Here is a section of the Fire Chief's Report for April 2009 addressing this issue:
This concerned citizen knew a thing or two about plumbing, water, pressure etc.
They then contacted a Town Trustee. Then the Buffalo Fire Department became involved. The Fire Department took the time to go out and test the hydrant for specs.
The Buffalo Fire Department’s representatives attached meters and other gadgets. When pressured, the hydrant blew water out of the top of the hydrant. (after first blowing the stick or piece of wood which had been jammed into the top of the hydrant out to high heaven - never to be found again - and they looked for it!)
The bypass of water, from where it is intended to go – through the fire hoses – was spurting out the top of the hydrant.
WOW! REALLY?
– Uh, hey Buffalo! – That’s what the fire departments report said it did! That’s why it was listed as in need of repair.
The fire representative was asked if they continue to stand by their report and they stated “YES”.
So who knows fire hydrants?
The Town of Buffalo’s economic development director, under guidance of the Town Manager or the Fire department?
If the Town knows so much about the fire hydrants, I suggest we call them any time there’s a fire – instead of the fire department. The Town knows more than the firemen (allegedly).
