Little Yellow Buddies provides annual service inspections of city, county, and private fire hydrants, including GIS/GPS certification and painting services. We also provide documentation for your ISO Rating.
The Certification Checklist
We’ll make sure you’re compliant
- Check hydrants for obstruction
- Check hydrant paint color and condition
- Hydrant barrel condition
- Break away pad condition
- Blue reflector located in street in front of hydrant
- Caps and gaskets are in place
- Hydrant threads & mechanisms lubricated
- Apply test cap with pressure gauge
- Open and close hydrant fully
- Vehicle protection bollards
- Out of service hydrants marked
By contracting with Little Yellow Buddies, you will
Save Time
2-3 Hours of Firefighter Time Per Day
Save Money
More Bottom Line for Vital City Programs
Save Lives
Concentrate on Call Volume
City/County Hydrant Services
The Little Yellow Buddies Custom Database
Little Yellow Buddies has developed a custom database to decrease service time in fire hydrant testing and certification. We provide easy to read Microsoft Excel® documents to all of our public fire hydrant clients.
GIS/GPS Certification
Little Yellow Buddies is North Zone GIS and Emergency Mapping Project compliant. All data compiled is entered into the Lynx Technologies GIS System. GPS coordinates are taken at each hydrant location for easy mapping in emergency situations.
Stocked and ready
- Betz Blue Dots
- Safety Yellow & Red Oil Based Enamels
- Epoxy Glue for Asphalt Surfaces
- High Pressure Water Sprayers
- Low Pressure Paint Guns
- Shovels, Rakes, Tree Trimmers
- Traffic Lights & Cones
In a typical city, 4 fire stations may service hydrants. That’s 12 groups! Little Yellow Buddies can do the work with 1 to 2 qualified, dedicated people. The hourly cost of an engine company to service hydrants, plus materials required, along with wear and tear on city vehicles is significant. Little Yellow Buddies does it for less and keeps the engine companies available for what’s important.
Did you know that you are required under the 2001 California Fire Code, Section 903.4.1.2 to have your private hydrants serviced every 6 months?
Private Hydrant Services
Your Responsibilities
A fire hydrant is considered private from the point where the water main is tapped and a double check and backflow preventer are placed anywhere on your property or complex. It is the property owner(s) legal obligation for maintaining a water-based fire protection system.
You are responsible for notifying your local fire department if your hydrant is out of service and again when the hydrant is returned to service. You must also repair damages or impairments and complete regular inspections, tests and maintenance. These tasks must be performed by qualified personnel.
This standard is adopted under the authority of the 2001 California Fire Code, Section 903.4.1.2.
Don’t Let This Happen
A fire starts and someone calls 911 – the fire department responds. The first-in engine pulls up to one of your private fire hydrants. They connect their hose, the hydrant is turned on, and nothing happens. Now, there is a major delay in getting water on the fire. The next engine that arrives has to obtain water from an alternative source. The fire is eventually extinguished.
One of the first things you do is contact your insurance company. They obtain The Fire Incident Report which states that your fire hydrant was dry and that there was a delay. Since you are required to maintain your private hydrants and you failed to do so, your insurance company can delay payment, refuse the claim, have you accept more responsibility for the damages, or not pay your claim at all.
Standardize annual testing, inspection and maintenance
If you have private hydrants on your property, call us today. We will ensure that your fire hydrants are visible, accessible and operational. At the end of our service, you’ll receive full documentation for your records. These records satisfy the requirements necessary in a fire hydrant inspection.
Little Yellow Buddies will perform all the tasks necessary to keep your fire hydrant(s) compliant with the law and give you proper documentation for your records.
About Us
After a distinguished career as a firefighter, Jim Wold started Little Yellow Buddies Fire Hydrant Services in October 2006.
- U.S. Navy Vet
- Seasonal Firefighter with Cal Fire
- Firefighter, City of Vista, 30 years
- President, Sherwood Heights Home Owners Association in Valley Center
- Member, San Diego County Firefighters Pipes & Drums
- Director, Valley Center Fire Protection District, November 2011 to 2021
Jim and his team perform the fire hydrant maintenance tasks above by tapping years of training and expertise that only comes from being seasoned professionals. Let us take the guesswork out of inspection – leave the fire hydrant service to us! Contact us for a quote on an Annual Service Plan.
The Last Fireman
On September 11, 2006, Little Yellow Buddies owner Jim Wold retired from the Vista Fire Department after 30 years of service. Although the politically incorrect job title of “Fireman” was changed to “Firefighter” years earlier, Jim’s title was never changed.
Video courtesy Ken Kramer’s About San Diego, NBC San Diego
Contact Us For A Quote
(760) 809-0577
Areas Served in San Diego County:
Valley Center, Fallbrook, Escondido, San Marcos, Vista, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Rancho Santa Fe, Rancho Bernardo, 4S Ranch, San Diego. Though we are primarily a North County San Diego fire hydrant services business, please contact us if you have needs in other parts of the county.