RETRO FIND: Kids ditched swimming pools for fire hydrants in '80s heatwave
In 1987, fire hydrants were the ultimate heatwave hack.
Yeah All right, what's going on here? Get what, man? Getting wet the time tested urban way. This art form is as old as fire hydrants and wrenches. On the hazy, hot and humid summer days in Boston, dozens of the city's 13,000 fire hydrants will be shooting out this cooling spray. And. That one is called the Hydrant Body Block. For the most part, those who opened the city's hydrants aren't attempting to cause anybody trouble, it's just their way of having fun. They open it up for an hour or two. The authorities often drive by without putting *** stop to this activity, but fire officials don't want juveniles to get the wrong idea. Turning fire hydrants on can be *** serious problem. Water pressure diminished and fighting fires can become *** dangerous task. Open hydrants reduce the supply and the pressure, and we all know it's mostly children who don't. Either be informed correctly that this is *** serious problem to the Boston. City officials are now putting expensive safety caps on some of the hydrants, but the vast majority still can be opened with *** wrench and just *** little muscle. The kids probably won't worry about fire protection, so fire officials are hoping that parents will step forward and assert themselves in Boston, Kirby Perkins, NewsCenter 5.
RETRO FIND: Kids ditched swimming pools for fire hydrants in '80s heatwave
In 1987, fire hydrants were the ultimate heatwave hack.
Updated: 9:57 AM CDT Jul 25, 2025
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In the summer of 1987, Boston’s fire hydrants were the go-to solution to beat the heat. With a wrench and a little elbow grease, residents uncapped dozens of the city’s 13,000 hydrants, transforming ordinary sidewalks into impromptu water parks.Neighborhood kids ran through the cool sprays. They splashed around and showed off moves like the “hydrant body block.” Though fire officials raised safety concerns, most authorities turned a blind eye, letting the summer tradition flow on.Watch the video to see what the reporter described as “getting wet the time-tested urban way.”If you enjoyed this video, dive into our archival playlist for more summer nostalgia!
BOSTON — In the summer of 1987, Boston’s fire hydrants were the go-to solution to beat the heat. With a wrench and a little elbow grease, residents uncapped dozens of the city’s 13,000 hydrants, transforming ordinary sidewalks into impromptu water parks.
Neighborhood kids ran through the cool sprays. They splashed around and showed off moves like the “hydrant body block.” Though fire officials raised safety concerns, most authorities turned a blind eye, letting the summer tradition flow on.
Watch the video to see what the reporter described as “getting wet the time-tested urban way.”
If you enjoyed this video, dive into our archival playlist for more summer nostalgia!