SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1999
Fire hydrant roulette
Union Claims 200 of 1,200 May Be Dead
By Thomas K. Staff
There are 70 to 100 fire hydrants the city knows don't work but they are not
the ones people should worry about.
Hydrants Tested Last May
By Thomas K. Staff
Every Scranton fire hydrant was tested last May and a list of those that did
not work was turned over to the city.
Placement May Impact Insurance
By Gina Thackara
A faulty fire hydrant on the corner may make firefighting difficult, but it
doesn't affect the homeowners liability if the house catches fire.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1999
Council wants new fire hydrants installed
By Lynne Slack Shedlock
The Scranton City Council wants Mayor Jim Connors to declare the fire
hydrant situation an emergency and immediately hire a subcontractor to install those now
on hand.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1999
Council Demands Faulty-Hydrant List
By Lynne Slack Shedlock
Scranton City Council on Friday demanded that Fire Chief Harvey Applegate
provide a list of faulty fire hydrants to council by 9 a.m. Tuesday.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1999
Lawsuit Illustrates Confusion Over Hydrant Liability
By Ray Flanagan
The finger-pointing in the current controversy has not been so direct, but it
appears that the lines of responsibility are not clearly drawn for inspecting and
maintaining the hydrants.
Chief Blames Inspector for Hydrant Mess
By Frank Scholz
The blame for the faulty fire hydrant mess in which the city currently finds
itself rests squarely on the shoulders of the citys former fire hydrant inspector not
doing his job, Fire Chief Harvey Applegate says.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1999
Fire chief in hot seat
By Lynne Slack Shedlock
A Scranton councilman called Tuesday for the ouster of Fire Chief Harvey Applegate
after learning that as many as 214 hydrants are out of service in part because the former
hydrant inspector was not doing his job.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1999
List: 210 city hydrants inoperable
By Lynne Slack Shedlock
After more than a week of prodding Fire Chief Harvey Applegate for the list
of the status of the city's 1,200 hydrants, a copy was provided to the Times-Tribune
newspapers on Wednesday. The list indicates 210 hydrants are out of service.
Outside city, fire hydrants working fine
By Christopher J. Kelly
While Scranton residents toss and turn with doubts about faulty fire
hydrants, residents of surrounding communities can apparently rest easy.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1998
Latest count of faulty hydrants: 140
By Lynne Slack Shedlock
Over the last week, it has become clear that Mayor Jim Connors and other city
officials have lacked a clear picture of how many faulty fire hydrants there are in the
city for some time.
Neighborhood groups may meet about hydrants
By Borys Krawczeniuk, Sheri Rodgers Brown
and Lynne Slack Shedlock TRIBUNE WRITERS
Leaders of city neighborhood associations say they welcome a plan to have a
citywide public meeting to discuss Scranton's fire-hydrant problems.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1999
Faulty Plugs Changed After Fatality
By Frank Scholz
Scranton firefighters found two inoperable fire hydrants while battling a
December fire at the home of an 87-year-old woman who would later die at the Lehigh Valley
Burn Center in Allentown.
$100,000 Freed For Contractor To
Replace 80 Hydrants
By Lynne Slack Shedlock
Bowing to a chorus of criticism leveled against his administration, Mayor Jim
Connors Friday signed an emergency declaration allowing the city to hire a contractor and
replace 80 or more dead hydrants in as little as 10 days.
Fire Chief's Job Appears Safe
By Lynne Slack Shedlock
Councilman Chris Doherty is a lone voice calling for Fire Chief Harvey
Applegate's firing or resignation.
People Say Hydrant Situation Must End Now
By Vince Coveleskie
A yellow out-of-service tag hanging from the fire hydrant at Cedar Avenue and
Cherry Street concerns Kenneth Smith, as well it should.
THE LIST: Is your hydrant working?
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1999
Some still hot over hydrants
By Borys Krawczeniuk
Scranton neighborhood leaders were happy to hear the city is speeding up
maintenance on faulty fire hydrants, but they aren't quite ready to nominate Mayor Jim
Connors as Man of the Year for doing it.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1999
Fireplugs no longer visible
By Margaret Emery
Most city residents just assumed their fire hydrants worked - until recently.
Faulty hydrants on way out
By Lynne Slack Shedlock
Linde Enterprises plans to start replacing faulty fire hydrants in Scranton
on Thursday after it was the low bidder Monday for the contract to do the work.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1999
Crews repair 12 hydrants on first day
By Gina Thackara
After one day on the job, crews have managed to repair or replace about a
dozen fire hydrants along North Washington Avenue in the city's Green Ridge section.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1999
Hydrant work falling behind expectations
By Lynne Slack Shedlock
For the second day, Linde Enterprises has fallen behind expectations in the
number of hydrants it has been able to install in the city, but Scranton Deputy Fire Chief
Terry Osborne said he is thrilled with the company's progress.
TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 1999
Fire chief: West Side fire arson
By Lynne Slack Shedlock
A fire that destroyed four North Garfield Avenue homes early last month and
sparked a controversy over the number of faulty city fire hydrants has been ruled arson.
PAWC only inspects county hydrants
By Sheri Rodgers Brown
Pennsylvania American Water Co. inspects nearly 6,400 fire hydrants across
Lackawanna and Luzerne counties once a year, but the company is only obligated to fix or
replace the approximately 4,000 hydrants in Luzerne County, a company official says.
SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 1999
| Last Hydrant Planted in
Hill Section |
By Margaret Emery
With uncharacteristic swiftness, the city delivered on its pledge to put more
than 200 fire hydrants back in service.
The work began Feb. 25, and Mayor Jim Connors said the final hydrant was
installed Friday afternoon. |
PHOTO BY EDWARD PIKULSKI
Linde Enterprises workers lower the last new hydrant into the ground
on Mulberry Street. |
|
