BRIEFS. metro

One-third of city fire hydrants damaged

la prensa

out of service:Many downtown hydrants require maintenance.1118592

A recent report by the Panama Fire Department revealed that nearly 30 percent of the hydrants in the capital are damaged or need repair.

The report described the city center and the historic colonial district of Casco Viejo as the most critical areas, and made recommendations in terms of reducing the risk of fire.

The department also recently reached an agreement with the Idaan, the government’s water and sewer agency, to cooperate in attending fires in a more efficient manner, according to Fire Commander Cecilio Lasso.

In 2003, the Panama Fire Department issued a report identifying deficiencies in 46 percent of the city hydrants, citing in particular the neighborhoods of San Francisco, Bella Vista, Parque Lefevre, Pueblo Nuevo, Rio Abajo, Chorrillo, San Felipe and Santa Ana.

The report found that San Francisco proves one of the areas with the highest incident of obstacles to hydrant maintenance, often due to overgrown foliage and irregularities in water pressure. Additionally, designated emergency zones in the neighborhood have been painted colors different to those established by fire department’s Security Bureau.