Tiny Maine town gets first fire hydrant

NASHVILLE PLANTATION, Maine (CNN/WAGM) - Typically, when you drive through even the smallest of towns, you'll likely see a police station and a fire house of some sort. But for one small town in Maine, the fire department has long been missing one key element: a fire hydrant. But that's about to change.

Nestled about halfway between Ashland and Portage Lake, the town of Nashville Plantation has, fortunately, never had any major residential or forest fires to deal with. But, as the town's deputy fire warden puts it, minutes can save lives and forest land.

"The thought came to mind because the closest fire hydrant for Nashville is either in Ashland or in Portage, which is five miles either way, north or south," said Perry Charette, deputy fire warden.

The pond where the hydrant will be hooked up to was established back in the 1960s. According to Charette, most people are unaware there is even a pond there. Charette says the new hydrant is called "dry hydrant."

"It's not pressurized but as soon as a fire truck hooks up to it, they'll be able to draught the water from the pond," Charette explained.

Part of the money for the hydrant, $1000, came from a Title IV grant from the Maine Forest Service.

Charette states, in the event a fire does break out, getting water will be much more convenient.

"So now, with this hydrant project that's going in, it will benefit the town greatly for forest fire protection especially because the Maine Forest Service and the fire departments won't have to travel four or five miles either way for a water source," said Charette.