Throughout February, Fire and Rescue NSW is urging residents and businesses to find the water hydrant on the footpath and street closest to their home or residence and check its condition.

Tamworth locals can help out by locating nearby hydrants and ensuring they aren’t obstructed by overgrown grass or gardens or covered by vehicles, mud or debris.

“If we’re fighting a fire at a home, time is critical, so we don’t want to spend longer than necessary looking for a hydrant,” Tamworth senior firefighter Rob Gander said.

“If we can’t access a particular hydrant, we have to go to the next one and run more hose.”

Mr Gander said fire trucks carried up to 2000 litres of water, which can be depleted in just five minutes when fighting a house fire.

The Tamworth crew is asking locals to “adopt a hydrant”.

“During our station work shifts, we try to get around town and check all of the hydrants. But we can’t get to all of them,” Mr Gander said.

“So, we’re asking residents to find their closest hydrant and make sure it’s marked and accessible.”

Hydrants can be located by HR, HP, RHR or RHP signs on power poles or gutters.

Reflective blue cat’s eyes on the road also signify a hydrant nearby.

If locals find a hydrant that appears inaccessible, they are encouraged to report it to the fire station or council.