FAIRBURY, Neb. -- The Fairbury Fire Department is calling on the assistance of residents to make sure important areas are shoveled and cleared of snow. 

Judd Stewart, Assistant Fire Chief and EMT, encourages residents to make sure to shovel their sidewalks and driveways in case of an emergency.

Stewart said it would make it significantly easier for ambulance personnel to get in and out quickly and efficiently. 

“Particularly helpful for us ambulance personnel, if we need to get to a house, we have about a 250 pound stretcher that we have to try to get through six to eight inches of snow to get up to the house, and then when we add the patient to that, it’s almost impossible to get back out," Stewart said. "So we have to take the time to use a snow shovel to clear the path ourselves.” 

Another problem with snowfall is fire hydrants getting blocked. In the case of an emergency, Stewart recommends that residents clear around a fire hydrant because every second counts. 

“Be aware of your fire hydrants," Stewart said. "If we do have an emergency and need to hook up to a fire hydrant, seconds count when we talk about how fast a fire can spread. So, if our fire hydrants are kept with about a three foot clearance all the way around the fire hydrant, that’ll be a huge help to the fire department if those hydrants are needed.”

With snowfall expected within the next few days, Stewart suggests that residents should clear snow before dark and early in the morning to help emergency personnel.