Buffalo has come up with a low-tech way to help the first fire fighters arriving at a burning building.
Many people living or traveling through the city can see the caps, what are called the bonnets, of fire hydrants have suddenly turned colors visible from long distances.
Buffalo Fire Commissioner Garnell Whitfield tells WBFO News it's the idea of the city's Water Department to help fire fighters who need water immediately at the scene and need to know how much is available.
Whitfield said they can look at a hydrant and immediately know.
"The red bonnet will indicate that the hydrant is connected to a water line of less than ten inches," Whitfield said.
"A blue bonnet will indicate that the hydrant is connected to a line of ten to 12-inches diameter. A white bonnet will indicate that the hydrant is connected to a line that is greater than 2-inches which is a large main for us. And, a yellow bonnet will continue to indicate that hydrant is out of service."
Whitfield said there are areas of the city, especially along Broadway near Bailey on the East Side, where there are problems with small pipes and pressure issues.
Whitfield noted there are some other areas in the city with low pressure,although that can be increased from the Colonel Ward Pumping Station in LaSalle Park, if fighting a fire requires greater pressure.
The fire commissioner said the fire fighting fleet is all new and can make good use of lots of water.
