Tosa streets salted; residents asked to clear fire hydrants

Wauwatosa Public Works crews have already salted the entire city and are in watch-and-wait mode, Operations Superintendent Mike Kreiter.

"Our goal is to keep the main roads cleared," he said.

Under the city's salt conservation plan - a way to minimize the environmental impact of salt run-off and save the city money -the main roads and the intersections, school properties, hills and curves on the side streets have been salted.

If there is accumulation of 4 inches or more, DPW will send out plows to clear city streets. However, the Wauwatosa Fire Department is asking individual property owners to remove snow from the fire hydrants in front of their homes.

If these hydrants aren't cleared it can delay our ability to put out a fire in the area," Deputy Fire Chief James Case said.

Since there had been more than a week since the area has seen significant snowfall, city departments had had time to get their equipment ready and plan staffing levels.

"We were pretty much ready for this one," Kreiter said.