Resident warns of fire risk at Troy Villa trailer park; city says hydrants are on private system

Robert Dilibor, a Troy Villa Trailer Park resident, told the Troy City Council on March 17 that a recent fire in the park burned for an extended period because “there is no water in the fire hydrants in the trailer park.” He said Troy fire crews had to run “a 100 feet of 5 inch pipe out of the park next door to get water to put the fire out.”

The comment prompted a staff report from City Manager Nastasi and follow-up by city staff. A city staff member said the mobile home park is a private property and “is actually regulated by the state of Michigan,” adding that the park’s distribution main is only about 3 to 4 inches in diameter and “our fire trucks draw too much water, we need larger mains.” The staff member said the park’s hydrants are privately owned: “The fire hydrants are theirs. Completely theirs.”

The exchange matters because many park residents live in closely spaced manufactured homes and Dilibor warned of a rapid spread: “We could have a total inferno going in that trailer park…there is no way for people to get out.” Council members pressed staff on what the city can do and whether state regulators have inspected the private hydrants.

City staff said the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has been notified about water-quality concerns in the park and that the city observed the issue during a sanitary sewer audit. Staff said even a functioning private hydrant would not reliably feed Troy’s fire apparatus because of the small main size and the age and condition of the park system; installing or upgrading a system on private property would require a larger partnership with the owner and likely substantial funds.

Fire department planning and previous mitigation were described: staff said the city intentionally installed public hydrants on properties abutting the park (on county road commission property and an adjacent industrial park) so responding crews use those hydrants rather than relying on the private park system. Staff said responding stations are aware of the hydrant limitations and have a known workaround for incidents at the park.

Council members asked staff and the city attorney to explore options the city might pursue to advocate on behalf of residents, including whether the city can request state assistance or pursue other legal or regulatory avenues. City staff said replacing the private main would likely be a multi‑million‑dollar project and would require coordination with the private owner and possibly the state. No formal council action or vote was taken; staff were asked to return with any legal options or potential next steps.

The resident’s remarks and the staff responses were recorded during the public comment period and the subsequent staff report. Council members expressed concern for resident safety and directed staff to provide further analysis and possible advocacy steps to protect residents’ safety and water quality.