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WEBVTT A FIRE HYDRANT WITH HIS CAR OVER THE WEEKEND. >> THE CAR WAS PARKED RIGHT HERE NEXT TO THIS HYDRANT AT THE CORNER OF 19 AND THIS M. FIREFIGHTERS WERE CALLED TO A FIRE DOWN THE BLOCK. WHEN IT COMES TO FIGHTING THAT BLAZE CREWS DON'T HAVE TIME IS TO SHOP AROUND FOR THE PERFECT HYDRANT. BLOCKING HYDRANTS IS AGAINST THE LAW FOR A REASON. THE DRIVER OF THIS CAR FOUND THAT OUT THE HARD WAY FRIDAY NIGHT. >> I TOLD MY BROTHER, IF YOU HAVE TO GO FARTHER, GO FARTHER. HE ALWAYS PARKS THERE. THIS TIME HE GOT CAUGHT. >> FIREFIGHTERS PULLED UP JUST BEFORE 630 AND THEY SAY AN ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTED. THEY HAD TO BREAK OUT THE WINDOWS TO RUN THE HOTS THROUGH. >> WHY COULDN'T THEY USE THAT ONE? >> FIRE OFFICIALS SAY THAT'S NOT HOW IS IT WORKS. TO SAVE PRECIOUS MINUTES, CREWS WILL OFTEN USE THE FIRST HYDRANT THEY SEE. >> WE WANT TO SAVE AS MUCH PROPERTY AS POSSIBLE AND HOPEFULLY THERE'S NOBODY IN THE STRUCTURE, BUILDING OR HOUSE AND WE WANT TO GET THOSE PEOPLE OUT. >> THE BAY TALIAN CHIEF SAYS LIKE YOU SEE IN THIS PHOTO ON TWITTER THE HOSE NEEDS TO COME STRAIGHT OUT FROM THE HYDRANT. >> IT WASN'T DISCHARGES ITS HE IMPROVABLE THE CAR WAS TOWED AND TICKETED. PART OF THE ISSUE IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S LACK OF STREET PARKING AT NIGHT. >> IT'S PACKED. TOO MANY PEOPLE. >> FIRE OFFICIALS SAY PARKING HAS BEEN AN ISSUE IN SOUTH OMAHA NEIGHBORS IN THE PAST AND LOOKING AT PUTTING UP NO PARKING SIGNS ON ONE SIDE OF THE STREET

Advertisement Firefighters smash windows of vehicle to get to fire hydrant Crews battled a fire near 19th & M streets Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Omaha firefighters had to smash the windows of a vehicle parked in front of a fire hydrant Sunday evening to get access. Crews then roped the fire hose through the vehicle so they could battle a house fire near 19th and M streets shortly before 5:30 p.m. "We always tell my brother, if he has to go farther then go farther, 'cause he always parks there, and this time he got caught," the driver's brother, Jesus Castillo, said, explaining it's difficult to find parking in the neighborhood. Castillo pointed out another hydrant at 20th and 'M' streets, and says he'd like to know why firefighters chose the one next to his brother's car. "I think it was kind of unnecessary because there's another fire hydrant over there and they could've used that one and it's much closer," Castillo said. Fire officials say it's not that simple. Battalion Chief Steven Thornburg said in order to save precious minutes and to prevent water from freezing, crews often use the first hydrant they see. "We want to save as much property as possible and hopefully there's nobody in the structure or building, but we want to get those people out," Thornburg said. Due to the amount of water and the pressure in the hose, Thornburg says going above or below the car wouldn't have worked well, and likely would have put too many kinks in the line, blocking the water flow. "As soon as it's charged, it's not moveable, it's too heavy, it's very stiff," Thornburg said. Omaha police say the car was towed and ticketed. Family members and others who live in the area say they hope the parking issue can be addressed. "They're just packed, there's too many people not enough space," neighbor William Morevec said. Thornburg said parking has been an issue in some south Omaha neighborhoods in the past, and the department is looking into whether or not putting up 'no parking' signs on one side of the street could help fire crews with access to hydrants. Officials want to remind the public that it is illegal to park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant for a reason. Fire investigators found the fire in a wall between the kitchen and a stairwell to the basement. They quickly put out the flames. No one was hurt.