04/23/2026
Water supply fire hydrant update for the Siam Community: we would like to set the record straight. We did not run out of water in hydrant, the pressure dropped to the point the time it was taking to fill a tanker we to long to be beneficial. On the fire scene firefighters were utilizing 3 handlines each flowing 150 gmp for a total of 450 gpm, the tankers were taking 20 minutes to fill a 2000 gallon tanker then add drive time we were running a deficit and it was quicker for tankers to drive farther to gain quick fill up points where the same tanker was filling in 4 minutes. Some tankers did continue to get water from the hydrant but it was taking a extended time. We know nothing about water systems other than the amount of effective water available in fire hydrants is directly related to the storage tank capacity of the system. The current system has capacity to maintain all homes in the area but not extended fire suppression. Having that said fire hydrants are not required by any department by any laws or regulations so so saying that we can't bash the department for not providing enough water for fire operations. Siams water department must first take care of the community and citizens primary needs. Once that is complete they can upgrade to include higher fire supply. Nothing happenes overnight and the conversations have now been started and we are confident the conversations will continue to work towards the fire side but we in no way want to take away from the service to the homes in the community. We ask everyone to support and give the water department time to continue to work and upgrade the system to better service everyone.
After the active fire yesterday in the Siam community many citizens became aware and concerned about the lack of available water to fight fires in this community. We have always know the water availability was limited but truly learned yesterday just how limited. Rest assured the volunteers fire departments in this county are very proficient in moving water and we have worked for years building one of the largest and best equipment fleets of apparatus in the region. At any given moment across Carter county we have 49,000 gallons of water setting on fire apparatus ready to respond , add in neighboring counties that number increases to well over 120,000 gallons ready and willing to respond. Additional there is 6 turbo draft systems in county, enough large diameter hose setting on apparatus to lay supply line nearly across the county from one end to the other, enough portable drop tanks to store enough water to fill an Olympic size pool. We in Carter county never stop building out our supply system which continues to grow with the additional if 4 new tankers in the works currently that will be in service in coming months. We have jointly implemented a new automatic aid agreement with Stoney Creek Vfd to begin setting up a fire engine at the watauga River in the event of another structure fire in the area which will provide more water quicker than any hydrant around. We will continue to train, increase tankers along with new equipment to ensure when we run into areas with no or slow hydrants fire operations will not be hindered.
