(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The Chicago Fire Department says open hydrants can be a safety hazard when the temperatures heat up.
“It can become an issue,” department spokesman Larry Merrit said Wednesday, as a heat wave continued across the city. “I remember growing up in Chicago. The hydrants were on all the time. You really don’t see it as much. But when those hydrants are turned on they can pose a potential problem.”
He says children playing in spraying water may not see oncoming traffic and vice versa. Water pressure could also be compromised.
Merritt notes there are splash parks, pools and the lake that can be used for cooling off.
He said residents should call 3-1-1 to report open hydrants, and the Water Department will take care of it.
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