Photo: Dorwart, Mike (uploader)
The Houston Fire Department says there are 320 fire hydrants out of service in the city.
According to HFD, there are over 59,000 hydrants around the city. An HFD spokesperson added that hundreds more require maintenance.
HFD along with Houston Public Works will now be tasked with conducting a complete review of the city's fire hydrants.
The news comes one day after a large fire swarmed a warehouse in northwest Houston and the city said two fire hydrants in the area were not working to help with containing the fire.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire said public safety should be their number one priority.
“If we don’t make this city safe and have workable fire hydrants, nothing else matters,” he said Thursday.
The mayor called out previous administrations for not addressing the city's aging infrastructure.
“Obviously I will leave here, go back to City Hall and hold public works and other city employees accountable,” Whitmire said Thursday. “Fire hydrants should be and is our highest priority.”
Local attorney Joe Vinas told our TV partner channel 2 that the non-working fire hydrants leave the door open to possible litigation aganist the city and that there needs to be action from city officials.
“I’m sure the city attorney’s office is nervous about hearing that number, the 320 fire hydrants throughout the city are not functioning properly,” said Vinas. "Whoever they need to light a fire under, they need to do it.”