Nesquehoning Borough Council wants to find out why its fire companies can't use fire hydrants the borough is renting in Lake Hauto.

On Wednesday, council voted to send letters to the Lansford-Coaldale Joint Water Authority and Lake Hauto Club regarding the hydrants in the development.Nesquehoning Fire Chief John McArdle brought it to council's attention that right now, the fire hydrants around the lake, which the borough pays a rental fee for from the water authority, are not usable by fire departments because the lines that were used to run them are too small, and if a fire company opens a hydrant, then the residents around the lake lose water.The problem is compounded, McArdle said, by the dry hydrant issue because Lake Hauto has not yet responded that they will take responsibility for any fees incurred with testing them.This spring, Nesquehoning Hose Company completed testing of the dry hydrants, and a hole in one of the lines allowed debris to flow back into the firetruck and cause $20,000 in damage, which was covered by insurance.With regards to the fire hydrants from the water authority not being usable, Councilwoman Mary Fox asked if the people were aware of the problem.McArdle said this problem has been around for about 30 years because the system has not been updated or maintained by the water authority since it was installed, and that is why the dry hydrants were constructed.Councilman Michael Sniscak asked why the borough was paying the $94.50 quarterly rental fee if the hydrants aren't usable."We're going to put our guys' lives on the line to fight fire, drive our trucks that we pay for and we have to pay $90 to use the hydrant to put the fire out?" Sniscak asked.McArdle said that right now, fire companies must either use their tanker trucks and then refill them at the dry hydrants or run approximately 3,000 feet of hose for relays to battle a fire in Lake Hauto."We're forced to use tankers or the dry hydrants," McArdle said. "In the case of a fire, Hauto Fire Company can get there quickly, but if they can't hook up to a hydrant, then they have to tank water in. Seven-hundred and fifty gallons of water doesn't go far on a fire that is fully involved."He asked council to see what is going on with the dry hydrant testing because the fire company will not do it until the matter is resolved about responsibility in the future.Council said it will send letters to both the water authority and Lake Hauto Club to begin to resolve the issues.In other matters, Nesquehoning Mayor Sam Kitchko reported that for the month of September, police collected $3,637.34; issued 51 citations; had a total of 450 incidents reported; and drove 3,649 while on patrol.Council also voted to enter into an agreement of sale with Washington Township, Cambria County, for the 2011 International packer truck that Nesquehoning still had after it got out of the garbage business. The cost of the truck is $81,000, to be paid over three years.The next meeting of Nesquehoning Borough Council will be a week earlier due to the Thanksgiving holiday. It will take place at 7 p.m. Nov. 18.