Frozen Hydrants

[INIT915 1,119]

http://www.firehouse.com/topics/top-headlines/frozen-hydrants-hinder-ny-efforts-put-out-house-fire-injured-seven-ffs

Jan. 31--A Brentwood house fire raged unchecked for about 20 minutes Sunday as firefighters on the scene, hobbled by two frozen hydrants, rushed to get water from others nearby, officials said.

At least nine people who escaped the blaze unharmed looked on in their pajamas Sunday morning as the Pelham Drive house went up in flames, the homeowner said.

[chris 18]

As a firefighter that would be a horrible feeling not being able to help due to a malfunctioning piece of equipment and I can't imagine what the people thought, that were watching near by. It looks like they are blaming the hydrant not draining as the cause of the freezing, is this correct ? we have a torch on our engine in case a cap is frozen on a hydrant, but luckily haven't needed it yet.