A BLAZE in a village near St Austell has highlighted the issue of obscured fire hydrants.
Firefighters were called to the bottom of Carne Hill at Trewoon in response to a house fire on Thursday.
A village resident who watched the drama unfolding says a fire hydrant hidden under soil did not help matters.
He said: “A man was safely rescued from the fire but the firefighters’ job was made difficult by the lack of an accessible fire hydrant. According to their records and my own knowledge, there was a hydrant on the grassed area in front of Badgers Watch.
“The hydrant could not be found until after the fire was extinguished using a hydrant further up Carne Hill and a bit too far away.
“The nearer hydrant was found buried under long grass with nearly two inches of soil covering it. There should have been a sign nearby but that could not be found either, it is probably underneath the brambles.”
The resident has called for improvements and more vigilance over fire hydrants.
Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service encourages people to report problems with fire hydrants.
There is an online form that can be filled in at https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/fire-and-rescue-service/keeping-safe/report-a-fire-hydrant-defect/