NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Nashville Fire Department is reminding people not to park next to a fire hydrant.

Fire officials said a vehicle was blocking a hydrant at the scene of a fire this week.

Nashville firefighters will tell you that every second matters in these emergencies.

Two homes off Windcrest Trail were up in flames, and both were total losses.

"We now had two fires that were active, fully involved and that we were going to have to work to contain and extinguish as quickly as possible," NFD Public Information Officer Kendra Loney said.

A car was parked in front of the closest fire hydrant, so they didn't see it.

Crews ran the hose across a busy street to get water.

"They did find the owner of the vehicle nearby inside a home and not aware of what was happening, although there were lots of lights, sirens and fire equipment in the neighborhood," Loney said.

"It's extremely frustrating when people think this is (a) simple violation because people's lives and property are on the line," Loney said.

The NFD is reminding residents not to park within six feet of a hydrant in either direction.

Officials said to consider whether your landscaping is an obstruction, too.

"This isn't a problem we experience a lot, so this may be a message people aren't used to hearing from us," Loney said.

Firefighters said the same car was parked in the same spot the next morning, blocking the hydrant.

It's unclear whether the driver has been ticketed.

They said that if you see someone blocking a fire hydrant, report it to hubNashville.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville/nashville-fire-department-reminding-people-not-to-park-in-front-of-hydrants/