Fire hydrant problems prompt city action in Topeka neighborhood

Video aired on Aug. 13.

TOPEKA (KSNT) – City officials are making changes after firefighters struggled with fire hydrants while fighting a house fire in August.

The Topeka Fire Department responded to a house fire in the 1100 block of Southwest Garfield, where they had to stretch a hose from the house to a fire hydrant around the street corner.

The city said fire crews were able to start firefighting operations using water from their trucks, which a city spokeswoman described as “normal operation.” Meanwhile, firefighters struggled to get two fire hydrants in the neighborhood to work.

27 News filed an open records request for fire hydrant policy and inspection records. Records showed that neither of the hydrants had been inspected in 2025. City Spokesman Dan Garrett said the last time the hydrants were inspected was in 2021.

Following the fire, the city took a closer look at two fire hydrants: one at 11th and Garfield and another at Garfield & Munson, both located near Lowman Hill Elementary School.

“The hydrant at Garfield and Munson was found to have a lower water volume due to its connection to a 4-inch water main,” said Amanda Knowland, city spokeswoman.

The city has made plans to connect hydrants in the neighborhood to a 12-inch main, for stronger water flow, Knowland said. The city will also replace the older hydrant at 11th and Garfield “to better fit modern firefighting equipment.”

Garrett said the city has an inventory of 5,200 hydrants that it inspects on a rotating schedule. He said the city aims to test each hydrant every five years. He also spoke on a hydrant that was hit by a car on Aug. 26, but didn’t release any water.

“Fire hydrants like the one hit on August 26th are designed to ‘break away’ at ground level,” Garrett said. “The impact from the accident did not affect the system that is underground, including where the hydrant connects to the water main.”

Garrett said hydrants are inspected anytime an issue is reported during use, such as during firefighting or after a water main break.

Knowland said if you would like a hydrant tested, the best way to request a See Click Fix ticket or by calling the call center at (785) 368-3111.

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