The city of St. Paul has developed a web-based Hydrant App to help residents locate and clear snow from fire hydrants.

Users of the web tool can enter their addresses manually, or click a button so the app can pinpoint their locations automatically. The app then displays hydrants in the vicinity as red symbols.

The city has more than 7,000 hydrants.

The Hydrant App is the joint handiwork of the St. Paul Fire Department, Regional Water Services and the Office of Technology and Communications. It will works on computers, tablets and smartphones.

Record-setting snow has left many of the city’s hydrants buried, prompting officials and others to plead for help with clearing them as a safety measure.

“Difficulty locating or accessing the closes fire hydrant can delay firefighting efforts,” the fire department said in a statement.

Residents are urged to locate nearby hydrants using the Hydrant App in order to pitch in with shovels or snowblowers. Major snowfall this weekend will make such efforts all the more necessary.