Keeping fire hydrants clear of snow and other obstacles saves lives. As a former fire fighter, I can tell you from personal experience that not having ready access to a fire hydrant puts fire fighters in danger and may cost lives and/or property. 

One of the best things we can do as citizens to make our neighborhoods safe from fire hazards is keep our fire hydrants clear. This means shoveling out around hydrants near our home in heavy snows and helping our neighbors understand the value of doing the same for their hydrants. 

One problem that fire fighters and home owners face is finding them once they are buried. Fire hydrants are so common place that we often look right past them. Close your eyes right now and try to visualize exactly where your nearest hydrant is. What color is it? How many blocks away is it? What side of the street is it on? If you're like most people, you probably either can't visualize it or you have to think really hard. 

Montgomery County has a tool that can help you find your hydrant and the hydrants near your home. I've posted a few videos below to show you how to use it. Because the maps are not always correct, I've posted a second video to show you a technique for finding it once it's already been buried, and what a properly dug out hydrant looks like.

The Montgomery County Map viewer can be found here: Montgomery County Map Viewer

To use it to find your hydrants, watch this short video from Bill Delany of the Montgomery County Fire Service:

Here's another short video I did in my own neighborhood in February of 2010 - right after the 2010 Snomageddon. It shows what you can do to find hydrants and to dig them out.

Fire Fighter Bob talks about hydrants. Kinda funny:

And finally, Here is Joe talking about digging fire hydrants. This one is amusing. :)