Fairview resident tells Alameda County hydrant has been hit repeatedly; asks county to press East Bay MUD

Michelle, who identified herself as a Fairview resident, told the Alameda County Board of Supervisors Planning meeting on Feb. 20 that a fire hydrant located in the drivable area of her court has been struck repeatedly and has caused damage to her property and intermittent loss of fire protection.

“ This hydrant sits at the top of a hill, and I am the last property at the bottom of a very steep grade,” Michelle said. She listed five incidents: the hydrant was sheared off on 01/12/2020; she said it was sheared off again on 08/22/2021 and ran for 58 minutes due to equipment failure; it was bumped on 12/10/2021 and on 01/03/2022; and she said it was sheared off again on 12/09/2024. Michelle said she had repeatedly asked East Bay MUD to relocate or protect the hydrant and had requested an automatic shutoff valve that would close if the hydrant were struck.

“Each time the hydrant is sheared, our court goes without fire protection for up to 2 days,” she said, and asked the board to follow up with East Bay Municipal Utility District (East Bay MUD), to move or protect the hydrant, or to install a shutoff valve. She also requested that the county consider hydrant installation and maintenance standards as a future agenda item so other residents would not face similar risks.

President Halbert asked Michelle for a street address or general location for staff follow-up; Michelle said she would provide that information offline. Another speaker, Kelly, suggested the pattern of damage may be caused by large trucks, grading or excavation equipment, or other heavy vehicles using the street rather than attributing fault to the hydrant itself. Kelly also referenced BART operations in the area.

The board did not take action during the Feb. 20 meeting; public comment was accepted only on non‑agendized matters because the body postponed agenda business to the March 13 Planning meeting.