Buried Fire Hydrants Hamper Emergency Response After Taunton House Explosion

Crews struggle to access hydrants as historic blizzard leaves Massachusetts communities digging out

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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First responders in Taunton, Massachusetts faced challenges accessing a fire hydrant during a house fire and explosion that left two people injured, as the region continues to dig out from a historic blizzard that buried neighborhoods in several feet of snow. The case underscores the broader challenges facing emergency crews across the South Coast and Cape Cod areas, with buried hydrants remaining a serious concern even as road conditions improve.

Why it matters

The inability to quickly access fire hydrants during emergencies can significantly delay critical response times and put lives at risk. This incident highlights the need for better coordination between local authorities and residents to ensure fire hydrants are kept clear, especially in the aftermath of major winter storms that can bury critical infrastructure.

The details

Bodycam footage from Taunton police shows first responders frantically searching for a hydrant as a home burned, with one officer heard saying "They're all buried." Resident William Shivers and firefighters were eventually able to locate and dig out a hydrant using a map, but the delay could have been catastrophic. Similar challenges were reported in other communities like Watertown, where firefighters faced delays accessing hydrants during a separate fire.

  • The house explosion occurred on Wednesday, February 26, 2026.
  • The historic blizzard that buried the region hit on Monday, February 24, 2026.

The players

Taunton Police Department

The local law enforcement agency that responded to the house explosion and whose bodycam footage captured the struggles to access a fire hydrant.

William Shivers

A Taunton resident who helped firefighters dig out a buried fire hydrant during the emergency response.

Gov. Maura Healey

The governor of Massachusetts who toured the South Coast region and said it was "ground zero" for the impacts of the historic blizzard, pledging continued state support.

Matt Medeiros

A Fall River resident who developed an app to allow residents to report unplowed streets, praised by officials for helping coordinate response efforts.

Matthew Lawlor

A representative from the nonprofit WalkUp Roslindale, advocating for residents to clear fire hydrants near their homes to aid emergency response.

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What they’re saying

“We took the shovels, and we were just banging into the snow, looking for a fire hydrant.”

— William Shivers, Taunton resident (NBC10 Boston)

“Imagine how many more how many more minutes that would have been wasted, you know, shoveling, just going through the snow.”

— William Shivers, Taunton resident (NBC10 Boston)

“This whole region, I think, was ground zero.”

— Gov. Maura Healey (NBC10 Boston)

“We won't take our foot off the gas at all.”

— Gov. Maura Healey (NBC10 Boston)

“The fire hydrant piece of it's essential.”

— Matthew Lawlor, WalkUp Roslindale (NBC10 Boston)

What’s next

The Massachusetts National Guard will continue assisting with snow removal and other support efforts in the affected communities. Local authorities are also urging residents to help clear fire hydrants near their homes to aid emergency response.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the critical importance of ensuring access to fire hydrants, especially in the aftermath of major winter storms that can bury crucial infrastructure. It highlights the need for better coordination between emergency services, local governments, and residents to proactively clear hydrants and keep communities safe.