The volunteer fire departments around Pittsylvania County have a problem, and that problem is weeds.
There are approximately 60 fire hydrants spread throughout Pittsylvania County, in maybe half of the fire districts, according to Ringgold Fire Chief Mike Neal. Some of these hydrants are located on private property, at the base of people’s driveways or on a business’s property.
However, the fire hydrants located on property that is for sale — or just out on the side of roads — are not being maintained to the standard that Neal would like.
“Pittsylvania County Service Authority put them [the fire hydrants] in, but… there was just no program put in to say who maintains them, said Neal.” “VDOT will come through a few times a year with their cutters and cut the grass on the side of the road, but it still don’t make them real visible a lot.