Paterson, NJ – Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh is criticizing residents who illegally opened fire hydrants during Friday’s extreme heat, saying the practice created unnecessary public safety concerns and disrupted water service to a nearby senior housing complex.
In a video posted to social media, Sayegh said city officials caught three people opening hydrants as temperatures and heat index values climbed well above 100 degrees.
Mayor says hydrants affected water pressure
“This should not be happening, Paterson,” Sayegh said. “We’re out patrolling the streets. People are very inconsiderate opening up these fire hydrants.”
The mayor said he had repeatedly encouraged residents to use city-operated cooling amenities instead of tampering with hydrants.
“When I went on television and repeatedly told residents you need to cool down, the pool is open. We have multiple splash pads, but yet people resort to doing this,” Sayegh said.
According to the mayor, one illegally opened hydrant on Carroll Street reduced water pressure at the Rising Dove Senior Citizen Facility.
“As a matter of fact, on Carroll Street, Rising Dove Senior Citizen Facility, they were low on water pressure because some individuals who lack common sense and consideration decided to open up the fire hydrant,” he said.
Patrols increased to prevent additional incidents
Sayegh said police and city officials would continue patrolling neighborhoods to prevent additional hydrants from being opened without authorization.
“We’re going to be making sure that we continue to patrol the streets to make sure that no one else does this,” the mayor said. “It is inexcusable.”
The mayor noted that temperatures had already begun to fall by the time he recorded the video but stressed that residents should continue using designated cooling locations, including city pools and splash pads, rather than illegally opening hydrants.
Key Points
- Paterson officials said three people were caught illegally opening fire hydrants during Friday’s extreme heat.
- Mayor Andre Sayegh said the incidents reduced water pressure at the Rising Dove Senior Citizen Facility on Carroll Street.
- The city is increasing patrols and urging residents to use public pools and splash pads instead of tampering with hydrants.
