The Townshend Fire Department's dry hydrant program started in the late 1990s when three hydrants were installed. They are still in service on Peaked Mountain Road, Vermont Route 30 north of the village, and Route 30 in West Townshend. 

After the first hydrants were installed, the town voted at town meeting to set aside $10,000.00 in a reserved account identified as the “Fire Pond Reserve” for future hydrant construction. Since then, we have installed 6 additional hydrants, one repaired and one currently under contract, leaving a total of 10 at this time.

The Townshend Fire Department members volunteer their time to construct and maintain the fire ponds. When necessary, we hire local contractors to conduct the site excavations. The Vermont Agency of Conservation Districts, Rural Fire Protection Task Force engineers all hydrants. Each hydrant must meet the following standard to qualify for grant reimbursement: have a capacity of at least 30,000 gallons, and can flow 1000 gallons per minute.

TFD by taking advantage of a grant program offered by the Vermont Agency of Conservation Districts, the Rural Fire Protection Task Force applies for 75% reimbursement of costs related to contractor assistance and supplies. Initially, the costs are paid from the fire pond reserve account.  Once completed and tested, the Rural Fire Protection Task Force inspects the work and reimburses the town up to 75% of our total costs. The reimbursement is supposed to be returned to the reserve fund to help pay the initial costs of the next fire pond.  The remaining 25% local match is the only cost to the town; however, without regularly adding funds, the account will eventually become depleted.

The hydrant system is used in every fire in town, sometimes more than one is used. Each of the hydrants has their own 911 address and we have pre-plans to assist our members as well as our Mutual Aid partners.

This partnership has been a cooperitive effort between property owners, local contractors, the Rural Fire Protection Task Force and the Townshend Fire Department membership. It has been extremely benifical for our community something we intend to continue into the future.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss this program further, or would like to explore setting up your own are interested in a fire pond, you can contact the program coordinator,  Assistant Chief Brian Schmidt, with the contact information posted to the right

Brian Schmidt

Fire Pond Coordinator

Assistant Chief

Townshend Fire Department

email; info@townshendvtfire.org

or use the contact us card above

Attn: Fire Pond Question