Stafford County seeks dry hydrant grant; Only a third of county protected by regular hydrants

STAFFORD — Stafford County Fire and Rescue Department has applied for a grant for new dry fire hydrants.

The Stafford County Board of Supervisors authorized County Administrator Thomas Foley to submit a grant application for dry hydrants with the Virginia Department of Forestry.

Each year, The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) provides an opportunity for fire departments throughout Virginia to apply for fully funded grants to install and maintain dry hydrants, a non-pressurized pipe system permanently installed in existing lakes, ponds, and streams.

The county’s fire and rescue department wants to apply for the fully state-funded grant which has been successfully awarded and completed in past years. No local or county funds would be necessary to supplement this grant.

This year’s application included the installation of two new dry hydrants as well as maintenance and repairs to existing dry hydrants. The installation costs of the dry hydrants will range from $2,000 to $4,000 and the replacement cost would be $2,000 per hydrant according to Community Engagement Program Director Andrew Spence.

Dry hydrants provide a suction supply of water to a fire department tank truck. They serve as a source of water for fire protection in areas that do not have standard fire hydrants. Fry hydrants last up to 30 years.

Dry Hydrants are very useful when public water is not nearby for fire incidents. They are a key resource of fire protection for the rural areas of the county. Only about a third of Stafford County properties are served by standard fire hydrants for fire protection.

The fire department also uses the hydrants for training.

New dry hydrants would be installed at Widewater State Park as well as a pond in the 2800 block of Warrenton Road, between Warrenton Road and Stork Mill Road.