Residents press Middletown authority to study fire-hydrant access after house fire

John Banker, a Scarborough Lane resident, told the Middletown Water Pollution Control Authority that a family of five was displaced by a February 2024 house fire and urged the authority to install fire hydrants on Scarborough Lane and nearby streets.

“My name is John Banker…a family of 5 has been displaced since then,” he said, recounting that responding companies struggled to access water from a buried 20,000-gallon tank and that neighbors had circulated petitions asking for hydrants.

Board members and staff acknowledged the safety concern but said options are limited by elevation and existing system pressure. Chief Engineer Brian Robel outlined two lower-cost possibilities: extending the main from an Atkin Street hydrant to the intersection or running a pipe through a right-of-way to feed Scarborough Lane. Robel cautioned that full service up the hill likely would require storage and a pump station, which would substantially raise costs.

A board member noted the town uses underground storage tanks for fire protection where water is not otherwise available and suggested additional training so mutual-aid departments know how to access those tanks. One member urged staff to check the Snow Ridge hydrant first as a potentially less costly source of water to feed the area.

The authority voted to table the matter to its next meeting and asked staff to further investigate engineering options, elevation/pressure constraints, and cost estimates. The board noted the issue could require coordination with the fire department and possibly the city council if bonding or major appropriations are needed.

The item will return to the next meeting with staff findings.