Dry Hydrant On Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge Photo by Mike Mlynarek 08/08/2007

Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge staff recently provided assistance with installation of two dry hydrants.  Dry hydrants provide fire departments with year-round access to a  surface-water source. Staff identified locations that met State of WI requirements both on the refuge and at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center.  Assistance with permitting and installation oversight were also provided.  The project was a collaboration between the refuge, the Town of Barksdale, the Town of Eileen, Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center, the City of Ashland Fire Department, Bayfield County Emergency Government and the Bayfield County Fire Association.

The installations on Whittlesey Creek and at the Visitor Center were included in eight new hydrants strategically located in northeastern Bayfield County.  Grants covered half of the cost of materials and labor with individual Towns paying the balance.  Total cost per hydrant was about $1,500.

Approximately six months after installation, a fire started at a dairy barn two miles from Whittlesey Creek.  Although the barn was a total loss, other structures and equipment were saved.  A pumping truck attached to the hydrant delivered 1,500 gallons per minute to tankers.  80,000 gallons were used while firefighters worked for 8 hours to extinguish the blaze.  The property owner, Town officials and firefighters from the three municipalities that responded were all thankful for the new water source.