It's important to understand that from every fire hydrant comes the lifeblood of fire fighting. A typical fire engine carries approximately 500 gallons of water in a tank mounted on the fire engine. It's not uncommon for firefighters engaged in a fast and furious fire attack to go through 500 gallons in 2-3 minutes. In fact, it may take several thousand gallons to extinguish a fire. Therefore, it's crucial that firefighters have quick access to a water supply.
Firefighters hook up hoses to the hydrant.
Water is then discharged from the hydrant and is pumped through a pump mounted on the fire engine. Everyone works together, while looking out for each other, and the fire goes out. The hydrant beams with pride. People often inquire about why hydrants are painted different colors. Although hydrants are listed on fire department maps, yellow paint enables them to stand out.