Does snow plow close your driveway?

[Darryl G]

Yeah, the thing is, at least here, your life can depend on these guys being able to get out of their personal driveway and respond to emergencies at all times. There is generally nobody on duty at the fire department or ambulance association (there may be people there hanging out though). They respond as-needed. You don't want people in need to be waiting an hour for them to shovel their way out of their driveway so they can respond...ya know. If you have regular hours it's different. You can plan to wake up early to shovel out or hire someone. But are you going to hire someone to come plow your driveway every 2 hours during a blizzard so you can volunteer?

These guys have to roll out any time of day or night on a moment's notice. It's already bad enough that they (and whoever needs them) need to wait until a full crew arrives from their homes/jobs before they can roll a truck out. In my town, the fire department ARE the first responders. Even most of the police force are town citizens (constables) and not career PD. Not ideal but it's a small town.

In any case...I can see why a town would plow their fire department staff out

P.S. - Sorry if I've perpetuated off-topic conversation here

 

[willys55]

Yeah, the thing is, at least here, your life can depend on these guys being able to get out of their personal driveway and respond to emergencies at all times. There is generally nobody on duty at the fire department or ambulance association (there may be people there hanging out though). They respond as-needed. You don't want people in need to be waiting an hour for them to shovel their way out of their driveway so they can respond...ya know. If you have regular hours it's different. You can plan to wake up early to shovel out or hire someone. But are you going to hire someone to come plow your driveway every 2 hours during a blizzard so you can volunteer?

These guys have to roll out any time of day or night on a moment's notice. It's already bad enough that they (and whoever needs them) need to wait until a full crew arrives from their homes/jobs before they can roll a truck out. In my town, the fire department ARE the first responders. Even most of the police force are town citizens (constables) and not career PD. Not ideal but it's a small town.

In any case...I can see why a town would plow their fire department staff out

P.S. - Sorry if I've perpetuated off-topic conversation here

thank you......we roll 24/7, do the best we can every time and never ask for anything, but I guess for some, it is a crime if my driveway is clear for free.



And just to clear things up, my driveway is 3500' long and I plow it myself, but when they come through, they make sure they don't push anything back in my driveway.
I have come to notice over the years the ones that complain the most are usually the ones that never lend a hand to anyone without putting their own hand out first.

 

[reynoldston]

thank you......we roll 24/7, do the best we can every time and never ask for anything, but I guess for some, it is a crime if my driveway is clear for free.



And just to clear things up, my driveway is 3500' long and I plow it myself, but when they come through, they make sure they don't push anything back in my driveway.
I have come to notice over the years the ones that complain the most are usually the ones that never lend a hand to anyone without putting their own hand out first.

I never said it was a crime but that you are very lucky. At 78 years old no I can't fight fires anymore but I do average around 40 hours a month in volunteering. And yes I do clean out my own driveway and always did.

 

[CentralMA]

Opening up an old thread....

The idea is genius, and it works. Been doing this for years.

But this year, 2026, February, finally some big snowfall in Central Massachusetts, the city hired plow guy has been consistently plowing up the street on the left hand side of the road, then doing the same (ie other side) coming back down (one way street).

Maybe he's dyslexic. Or from the UK. Or just an absolute A*SH**E.

So now I'm blowing out 20 feet of the curb.

I do like the cold stuff though.