Who keeps fire hydrants in Richmond bright, clean, and ready for emergencies?
Each summer, student workers are hired to repaint around 1,000 of Richmond’s 5,000 hydrants. These young painters play a key role in keeping the city safe and its streets looking clean.
Carter Ackerman and Paige Sever are among the students helping with the painting this year. They begin work early at 7 a.m. at the City Works Yard, where they get daily tasks from their supervisor.
Before painting starts, they clear grass and weeds around hydrants. Then they scrub off old paint and rust using wire brushes. This helps the new paint stick better.
They apply red and white paint in fresh layers. The process takes about 20 to 30 minutes per hydrant. On average, they cover 12 to 15 hydrants each day. Most hydrants are repainted every five years.
Though they often work alone, they stay close enough to check in with each other. In busier areas, they team up and set out cones and signs for safety.
Why is this job so important? For visibility, of course. In emergencies, firefighters must quickly find hydrants. Bright colors make them easy to spot.
The paint also protects the hydrants. It prevents rust and helps extend the life of the metal parts. And clean, freshly painted hydrants make the city look better.
To do this job, no painting experience is required. But a full Class 5 driver’s license is needed. That’s because workers drive city vehicles daily. Training is provided, including driving, safety, and first aid.
When they started last year, Ackerman and Sever learned by shadowing experienced painters. Now, in their second year, they help train newcomers.
Ackerman says it’s a lot of responsibility but also a good learning experience. Sever enjoys pointing out the hydrants she painted while driving with friends and family.
The job has some downsides. It’s physically tough. They work in the sun, lift heavy gear, and spend hours on their feet. But both say the friendly team and hands-on work make it worth it.
Whether they return next year is still undecided. Both are third-year students at the University of British Columbia. Ackerman studies accounting and is looking for internships. Sever studies urban forestry and may explore city planning roles.
A fun fact they learned on the job? A fire hydrant under full pressure is no joke. According to a sign Ackerman saw, the force of the water is like a bison stepping on your foot.
Working as Richmond fire hydrant painters may seem like a small job. But it’s an important one—helping keep the city safe, functional, and good-looking all year round.
