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Hydrants at mobile home park called ineffective

August 25, 2001

BY DAN ROZEK STAFF REPORTER

When Nancy O'Reilly's mobile home caught fire, Bridgeview firefighters opened a hydrant in her front yard.

And a trickle of water drizzled out of the hydrant, hooked to a privately maintained pipe operated by the Rosebud Mobile Home Community.

''You couldn't even get a drink out of it,'' said Ben Jungman, O'Reilly's son-in-law.

Firefighters had to run hoses about 1,500 feet from a city hydrant into Rosebud to fight the fire, which destroyed the trailer.

The 72-year-old O'Reilly was unharmed, but the July 30 fire has sparked a storm of anger among residents of the 50-year-old mobile home park.

Bridgeview fire officials say only three of 26 hydrants on the system contain enough water pressure to be used routinely for firefighting.

But Illinois law doesn't require water systems at older trailer parks--such as Rosebud--to meet minimum flow requirements.

That loophole has prompted residents to meet with state legislators in hopes of changing state code. Residents of the 900-home neighborhood plan protests at the park today and Sunday.

Many residents weren't aware of the problem until the recent fire, although Bridgeview officials say the situation isn't new.

''It's been going on for years,'' Bridgeview Fire Chief Terry Lipinski said, adding his department has long taken special precautions to protect Rosebud residents, including sending fire trucks with their own water supply to calls in the park.

Rosebud officials could not be reached for comment.

A state legislator said she will seek to change Illinois' administrative codes so water systems at older trailer parks aren't exempted from modern safety requirements.

''It is an unacceptable situation from a public health standpoint,'' said state Sen. Christine Radogno, a La Grange Park Republican. ''We're talking about a situation where there could be fatalities.''

Private water systems installed since 1998 have to meet minimum flow requirements designed to provide enough water pressure for firefighting, Radogno said. But older parks have been exempted from the recent rules.

In the meantime, Rosebud residents say they worry about the next fire.

''What's going to happen to the next people?'' said Pat Lea, O'Reilly's daughter, who also lives in Rosebud and owned the trailer that burned. ''Why have the hydrants if they don't work?''