PRESS PHOTOS BY JIM MARSH

A fire in a dwelling can double in size every 60 seconds. Eastern or Western Salisbury firefighters responding to a dwelling fire can use all the water in their engine's onboard tank in a couple of minutes. Having access to additional water through the hydrant near a home is essential to protect life and property. Many hydrants in the township are "snowed in" because of the ongoing snowstorms. Salisbury Police Chief Allen Stiles, Eastern Salisbury Fire Chief Dave Tomcics and Western Salisbury Fire Chief Joshua Wells have issued a public plea for residents with fire hydrants on their property to take a few minutes to clear snow away from the hydrant out to the roadway. If firefighters have to respond to your neighborhood, the minutes lost digging out a hydrant to get to the water supply would be critical. Please respond before they might have to.