An almost-buried fire hydrant on Abbe Road in Elyria. Firefighters ask homeowners to clear snow from hydrants in case of a fire. (CT photo by Bruce Bishop.)

ELYRIA — After last weekend’s snowstorm, hundreds of city fire hydrants are buried under several inches of snow — or feet, when you factor in what has been plowed on top of them — and firefighters must spend extra time digging each out before they can attach fire hoses in the case of a fire.

As a result, city officials are asking residents and business owners to dig out the fire hydrants in front of their homes and businesses.

“It only takes a few minutes and it is time firefighters do not have to spend at an emergency scene,” said city Safety Service Director Chris Eichenlaub. “Time is critical when we arrive at a fire scene and when every minute counts, clearing a fire hydrant is one more thing firefighters would have to do.”

City officials don’t want residents to stop at just the fire hydrants. Residents and business owners have an obligation to remove snow and ice from the sidewalks in front of their homes and business.

“We are asking residents to address their sidewalks in a reasonable amount of time,” Eichenlaub said.

With another storm expected today, that reasonable amount of time hopefully will be sooner rather than later, Eichenlaub said.