The Winter of 2013-2014 is going down in history as one of the most severe and highest in snowfall. For the fire service it means responding to many more emergency calls for downed wires, fallen tree lines, and vehicle accidents on slick roads. Increased snow fall also means shoveling out hydrants and putting in place winter tactics such as shortening the time out in the elements and keeping hose lines running to keep them from freezing. On several occasions as the area was hit with large snowstorms, crews voluntarily stander at the firehouse around the clock to respond rapidly at the height of the storms. These crews also criss-crossed the township to shovel out hydrants that residents did not. It’s a good practice, that if you live near a hydrant to shovel it out as much as 3 feet around the hydrant so firefighters can properly hook up hose lines to battle a fire. Photos by Robert Wilmot, Jr.