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With new law, owners hold liability for fire hydrants on their properties

 

From Illinois Business Journal news services

SPRINGFIELD — Fire protection districts that must spend time, money and manpower to ensure fire hydrants on private property are visible and functional will be compensated under a new law sponsored by state Sen. Linda Holmes, D-Aurora.

“The overwhelming majority of our local fire protection districts in Illinois get by on frugal budgets and the selfless efforts of brave volunteers,” Holmes said. “If people entrusted with maintaining fire hydrants aren’t doing so, our fire protection districts should be compensated for the time and effort they need to take to rectify the situation.”

Under the new law property owners who fail to rectify problems with fire hydrants on their property after being given written notice will be held responsible for reasonable costs incurred in bringing the hydrants up to code and any legal fees incurred in collecting those costs.

The legislation was Senate Bill 740. The new law takes effect Jan. 1.

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