Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Unusable Fire Hydrants in Bloomington

By: Diane Benjamin

Received by FOIA. Public safety is the job of government. Is Bloomington going to be able to put out a fire at your house? Check the list.

Below is not the complete list of all the problems with fire hydrants. Stem too tight means the hydrants is rusted shut and can’t be used, the first list has a few. A more complete list is below.

Low pressure means the water flow is not enough to fight a fire. Note all the addresses on the list for both 2021 and 2023.

I did not receive information for 2024 to see how many of these have been fixed. If one of these is by your house you should be able to tell if maintenance fixed some of the problems listed.

1906 CASTLE AVE06/18/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure, Stem too tight
CASTLE AVE06/18/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure, Stem too tight
W GROVE ST05/22/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure, Other repairs needed not listed
1009 W TAYLOR ST05/16/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure, Other repairs needed not listed
815 W JACKSON ST05/13/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure, Other repairs needed not listed
810 E WOOD ST04/24/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure, Other repairs needed not listed
CROXTON AVE07/30/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure, Other repairs needed not listed
E BISSELL ST07/30/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure, Other repairs needed not listed
1914 GOLDEN DR06/18/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure, Other repairs needed not listed
1508 BUNN ST07/30/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure, Other repairs needed not listed
916 E BAKER ST07/30/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure, Obstruction around hydrant, Stem too tight, Wild vegetation too close to hydrant
1201 CROXTON AVE08/11/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure, Obstruction around hydrant, Planted vegetation too close to hydrant, Steamer outlet is too close to ground
2008 CASTLE AVE06/18/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure, Obstruction around hydrant, Planted vegetation too close to hydrant, Steamer outlet is too close to ground
E MILLER ST05/18/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure, Needs UFID sticker
1622 S MADISON ST05/15/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure, Needs UFID sticker
E MONROE ST08/06/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure
E MONROE ST08/06/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure
E JEFFERSON ST07/31/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure
106 MOORE ST08/19/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
106 MOORE ST05/27/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
W GROVE ST05/13/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
E GROVE ST05/27/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
E OLIVE ST06/17/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
913 W TAYLOR ST05/16/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
W TAYLOR ST05/16/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
W TAYLOR ST05/13/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
E TAYLOR ST06/17/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
E TAYLOR ST05/24/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
W JACKSON ST05/13/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
W JACKSON ST05/13/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
1210 W MILL ST05/07/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
W MILL ST05/13/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
W MILL ST05/13/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
W OAKLAND AVE07/31/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure
BELL ST07/31/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure
710 E WOOD ST04/24/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
710 E WOOD ST05/18/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
E WOOD ST04/24/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
E WOOD ST05/18/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
810 E WOOD ST05/18/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
NICCOLLS ST06/02/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
W MILLER ST06/05/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
E MILLER ST06/02/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
E MILLER ST04/24/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
BUCHANAN ST06/02/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
BUCHANAN ST05/27/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
BUCHANAN ST04/24/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
BUCHANAN ST05/18/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
E BISSELL ST06/02/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
E BISSELL ST05/27/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
BAKER ST06/02/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
BAKER ST05/30/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
320 E BAKER ST06/02/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
320 E BAKER ST05/30/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
E BAKER ST06/02/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
E BAKER ST05/30/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
10 BERENZ PL04/27/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
W WOOD ST07/27/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure
1410 LOW ST05/03/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
LAKE DR06/05/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
514 KREITZER AVE09/01/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure
1009 W WOOD ST07/27/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure
512 FLORENCE AVE09/01/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure
MAIZEFIELD AVE09/01/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure
CLOUD ST09/01/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure
FREMONT ST04/24/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
FREMONT ST05/18/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
W BAKER ST06/02/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
W BAKER ST05/30/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
315 E LINCOLN ST05/06/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
315 E LINCOLN ST05/30/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
331 E LINCOLN ST05/30/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
E LINCOLN ST05/30/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
108 BELLEMONT RD07/28/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure
BELLEMONT RD07/28/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure
E TAYLOR ST08/09/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure
GRANT RD08/09/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure
1612 S ROOSEVELT AVE04/27/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
1612 S ROOSEVELT AVE05/15/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
LAFAYETTE ST04/27/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
LAFAYETTE ST05/15/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
1622 S MADISON ST04/27/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
MAIZEFIELD AVE08/26/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure
E MACARTHUR AVE04/27/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
E MACARTHUR AVE05/24/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
S MERCER AVE05/01/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
2006 E LINCOLN ST05/01/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
2006 E LINCOLN ST05/13/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
2 PAUL CT07/23/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure
904 REINTHALER RD05/25/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
2214 PEIRCE AVE05/28/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
MOORE ST06/18/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure
LAFAYETTE ST05/10/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure
1820 LAFAYETTE ST05/10/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure
MEADOWBROOK DR05/13/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure
214 MAGNOLIA DR05/10/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure
225 MAGNOLIA DR05/13/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure
E LINCOLN ST05/13/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure
806 REINTHALER RD05/25/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
806 REINTHALER RD06/03/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
1702 SPRINGFIELD RD05/03/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
1702 SPRINGFIELD RD05/30/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
107 HILLTOP RD05/18/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
1623 KOCH ST04/27/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
1623 KOCH ST05/15/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
812 E EMPIRE ST04/18/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
1601 S OAK ST04/27/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
1601 S OAK ST05/15/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
1821 E LINCOLN ST05/13/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure
1613 S MAIN ST07/08/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
MOORE ST06/18/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure
312 GOLDENROD RD05/27/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
CLOVER CT05/02/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
204 CLOVER CT05/02/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
308 CLOVER CT05/02/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
308 CLOVER CT05/27/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
206 BITTERSWEET CIR05/02/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure
206 BITTERSWEET CIR05/27/2023 00:00:00Low Pressure
10 TIMBERLAKE RD06/25/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure
25 TIMBERLAKE RD06/25/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure
19 TIMBERLAKE RD06/25/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure
TIMBERLAKE RD06/25/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure
12 TIMBERLAKE RD06/25/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure
2 TIMBERLAKE LA06/25/2022 00:00:00Low Pressure
W STEWART ST04/30/2021 00:00:00Low Pressure

Additional Stem too tight – all of these are rusted shut:

W KELSEY ST06/04/2023 00:00:00Stem too tight
700 W MULBERRY ST05/04/2023 00:00:00Stem too tight
E JEFFERSON ST07/31/2022 00:00:00Stem too tight
1113 W OLIVE ST06/03/2021 00:00:00Stem too tight
400 S CENTER ST07/28/2022 00:00:00Stem too tight
E LINCOLN ST05/06/2021 00:00:00Stem too tight
1914 CROXTON AVE06/03/2022 00:00:00Stem too tight
1412 CROXTON AVE06/24/2022 00:00:00Stem too tight
IAA DR07/17/2021 00:00:00Stem too tight
714 VALE ST06/18/2022 00:00:00Stem too tight
2200 S MAIN ST05/29/2022 00:00:00Stem too tight
E OAKLAND AVE06/04/2023 00:00:00Stem too tight
501 BELL ST05/24/2023 00:00:00Stem too tight
W WOOD ST07/27/2022 00:00:00Stem too tight
ARROWHEAD DR06/09/2022 00:00:00Stem too tight
1305 CHALLIS DR06/09/2022 00:00:00Stem too tight
1409 CHALLIS DR06/09/2022 00:00:00Stem too tight
1003 CHICORY LA05/27/2023 00:00:00Stem too tight
MORRISSEY DR08/11/2022 00:00:00Stem too tight
1704 EASTLAND DR06/04/2022 00:00:00Stem too tight
CADWELL DR06/03/2022 00:00:00Stem too tight
1217 CADWELL DR06/03/2022 00:00:00Stem too tight
6 SOMERSET CT07/23/2022 00:00:00Stem too tight
204 WOODRIG RD05/11/2022 00:00:00Stem too tight
1407 N VETERANS PKY09/16/2021 00:00:00Stem too tight
JUMER DR05/23/2021 00:00:00Stem too tight
JUMER DR06/01/2023 00:00:00Stem too tight
12 HOLDER WAY05/10/2022 00:00:00Stem too tight
1035 WYLIE DR08/21/2021 00:00:00Stem too tight
STOCKHOLM ST06/09/2022 00:00:00Stem too tight

The list below can’t be used because the hose can’t connect to the hydrant.

1503 OAKBROOK DR06/06/2023 00:00:00Steamer outlet is too close to ground, Stem too tight
102 E WASHINGTON ST08/06/2022 00:00:00Steamer outlet is too close to ground
W GROVE ST06/04/2023 00:00:00Steamer outlet is too close to ground
309 S ROOSEVELT AVE07/28/2022 00:00:00Steamer outlet is too close to ground
322 S MAIN ST07/28/2022 00:00:00Steamer outlet is too close to ground
2114 PEIRCE AVE05/28/2021 00:00:00Steamer outlet is too close to ground
WYLIE DR06/01/2023 00:00:00Steamer outlet is too close to ground
TRINITY LN06/03/2021 00:00:00Steamer outlet is too close to ground
1119 W WASHINGTON ST05/16/2021 00:00:00Steamer outlet is too close to ground
234 GREENWOOD AVE06/01/2021 00:00:00Steamer outlet is too close to ground
236 GREENWOOD AVE06/01/2021 00:00:00Steamer outlet is too close to ground
1017 CHICORY LA05/02/2021 00:00:00Steamer outlet is too close to ground
2007 W WASHINGTON ST09/25/2022 00:00:00Steamer outlet is too close to ground
12 ANDY CT04/06/2021 00:00:00Steamer outlet is too close to ground
GERIG DR09/07/2021 00:00:00Steamer outlet is too close to ground
1101 EKSTAM DR04/13/2021 00:00:00Steamer outlet is too close to ground
2804 SPANGLE RD05/01/2021 00:00:00Steamer outlet is too close to ground
22 MONARCH DR04/23/2022 00:00:00Steamer outlet is too close to ground
26 MONARCH DR04/23/2022 00:00:00Steamer outlet is too close to ground
20 LAUREL WOOD DR04/23/2022 00:00:00Steamer outlet is too close to ground
SPRING RIDGE DR04/23/2022 00:00:00Steamer outlet is too close to ground
PAMELA DR08/14/2021 00:00:00Steamer outlet is too close to ground
2502 SAVANNA RD05/01/2021 00:00:00Steamer outlet is too close to ground
2908 GILL ST05/28/2022 00:00:00Steamer Cap is damaged, Stem too tight
800 W CHESTNUT ST05/04/2023 00:00:00Steamer Cap is damaged, Steamer Nipple needs repair

All of these might be unusable because they are old. The description doesn’t make it clear.

O’HARA ST05/04/2023 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
W FRONT ST05/22/2021 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
104 WARNER ST05/27/2023 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
1109 W GROVE ST06/04/2023 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
E JACKSON ST05/18/2023 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
BELL ST08/23/2022 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
BELL ST08/23/2022 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
800 HANNAH ST08/23/2022 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
E WOOD ST06/20/2021 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
E WOOD ST07/30/2022 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
E MILLER ST07/30/2022 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
FREMONT ST04/24/2021 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
E BISSELL ST04/24/2021 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
E BISSELL ST05/18/2023 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
MEADOWS AVE08/26/2022 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
BUNN ST07/30/2022 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
MEADOWS AVE08/26/2022 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
CLOUD ST06/18/2022 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
904 REINTHALER RD06/03/2023 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
CONLEY CIR05/13/2022 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
810 PARMON RD05/25/2021 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
RHODES LA05/11/2023 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
MCGREGOR ST06/24/2022 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
710 IAA DR07/17/2021 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
2300 SPRINGFIELD RD04/19/2023 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
2303 SPRINGFIELD RD04/19/2023 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
Springfield RD04/19/2023 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
2317 SPRINGFIELD RD04/19/2023 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
2319 SPRINGFIELD RD04/19/2023 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
E LINCOLN ST07/09/2022 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
E LINCOLN ST07/09/2022 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
RUST RD07/01/2022 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
602 LUTZ RD10/02/2021 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
800 MCGREGOR ST06/24/2022 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
602 LUTZ RD10/02/2021 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
706 BUNN ST07/30/2022 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
S MAIN ST05/29/2022 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
S MAIN ST05/29/2022 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
S MAIN ST05/29/2022 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
SOUTHGATE DR05/14/2022 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
1610 S Main ST04/18/2021 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
1616 S MAIN ST04/18/2021 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
OAKWOOD AVE05/20/2023 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
2109 OAKWOOD AVE05/20/2023 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
KURT DR06/05/2021 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
1307 ALEXANDER RD05/05/2023 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
MAPLE HILL RD05/17/2023 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
MAPLE HILL RD05/17/2023 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
2607 BINGHAMTON LA04/26/2023 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
4 BLUE LAKE CT08/04/2022 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
1025 WYLIE DR08/22/2021 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
15 HODGEHAVEN CIR05/27/2023 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
2211 JESSAMINE RD05/14/2021 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
IRELAND GROVE RD05/06/2021 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
SOUTHGATE DR05/14/2022 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
SOUTHGATE DR05/14/2022 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
MONICA LA04/29/2023 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
CASTLETON DR05/09/2023 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
AIRLINE DR05/12/2023 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
MORRISSEY DR05/07/2022 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
E HAMILTON RD05/17/2023 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
E HAMILTON RD05/17/2023 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
E HAMILTON RD05/17/2023 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
1413 LESLIE DR04/25/2021 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
HUBBARD DR05/02/2023 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
LESLIE DR04/25/2021 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
602 LUTZ RD10/02/2021 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
2502 SAVANNA RD04/29/2023 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed
Pampas Ln04/29/2023 00:00:00Other repairs needed not listed

9 thoughts on “Unusable Fire Hydrants in Bloomington”

  1. Wow. If I lived at or near any of these addresses I would be making phone calls and writing letters! Good find DB.

    Reply

  2. Meanwhile the fire inspectors of retail establishments is out there enforcing code to the letter. Let the peasants pay while Rome burns I guess. Bloomington administration is absolutely clueless, worthless and has gone to hell.

    Reply

  3. Country Financial is on IAA Drive, as well as other residences and businesses. I would think they’d all be interested. The Zoo is on Wood St., in addition to many residences. Luther Oaks is on Lutz Rd. A lot of businesses on Wylie Dr., Hamilton Rd., Central Catholic is on Trinity Ln as well as numerous businesses. I could go on. This issue could be catastrophic. This is so illustrative of the city government of Bloomington being Negligent in their Fiduciary Responsibility to Taxpayers. This egregious neglect of fire hydrants is completely unacceptable. Keeping them in working order is exactly what we pay taxes for. Instead the city of Bloomington irresponsibly spends our tax money on stupid stuff like downtown streetscape, white elephant arena, etc. I sincerely hope no one loses a loved one in a fire due to negligence on the part of the city of Bloomington.

    Reply

  4. Hahahaha…and they gave Gleason RAISES in pay to an absurd amount, instead of firing him for incompetence! No wonder he booked.

    Reply

    1. Some problems have been going on for decades – about the time they decided to build the Coliseum instead of concentrating on essential services. I hear some hydrants could be 100 years old too.

      Reply

  5. Take action, right here, right now.
    Put together a post card, cheaper postage, quite visiable, quick to read.
    Do drive bys to get more addresses.
    Send multiple per address area, encourage folks to talk to their neighbors.
    Sendout the postcard, noting hydrant issues on their street, neighborhood.
    Provide phone numbers of the fire department, city administration demanding repairs.
    Coordination simply includes perhaps Diane to take volunteers by letters of the alphabet or perhaps someone else can volunteer. No names required, stay anonymous right here. I’d do it myself but am currently short on time.

    Reply

  6. Bloomington gets a A+ for the game of kicking the can ddown the road. Besides poor roads, lacking infrastructure repairs and blowing money on stupidity-dowwntown bloomington. We must not for get the one year delay on the waterpark and the five years in a row that the fountain at McGraw Park has been inoperable. It sounds like Giggles the mayor might be not up for the job. The glitch on Fish’s comments on the homeless spread was a pathetic example of government for the government, not the people… Please vote in the next election or we will more of the same. I hope you are running Giggles.

    Reply

  7. It seems like I saw a tag on the valves on the building next to Shoey’s Barbershop for the sprinklers that it is broken. I’ll have to look again tomorrow when I am there if I remember too.

    Emerald City never has fires. Not to worry. I wonder how they know a hydrant isn’t in service when the FD shows up? Are they told before getting there or find out after they are there and have to locate a working one wasting time?

    I wonder how many million $$$ it would take to fix that mess? Oh wait public entertainment is the priority. Hope you have insurance.

    Reply

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