Fire Hydrant Colors in Bismarck-Mandan: What They Mean

We don't really pay that much attention to them, do we? Unless there's a massive incident, fire hydrants mostly go unnoticed. Well, at least until we find a really good parking spot and realize we can't park there without blocking one.

Recently, there have been two major fires in Bismarck, and without these little devices, tons of people might have lost more of their belongings, or much more precious, their lives.

You may have noticed that some fire hydrants around Bismarck-Mandan look different than others. This isn't random or for decoration. According to Business Insider, each color signifies something and serves a greater purpose. The source says the different colors represent how many gallons per minute (GPM) the hydrant releases. Hydrants with a higher GPM can extinguish larger fires, according to the source.

Here are the most popular hydrant colors: red, orange, yellow, blue, violet, and green. Let's break down the different meanings.

Red

Red is the most popular color of fire hydrant. When you see a red hydrant, it means the hydrant delivers 500 GPM or less. These are ideal for 2-story houses measuring 50x50x20 ft.

Orange

According to the source, if you see an orange hydrant in North Dakota, that means it is capable of  500 - 1,000 GPM. This is ideal for a 4-story structure that is 50x50x40 ft.

Green

I'll admit, I'm not sure I've ever seen a green fire hydrant in North Dakota. If you do, just know it releases 1,000-1,500 GPM. This is meant for 4-story structures that are 61x61x40, according to Business Insider.

Yellow

You may see yellow hydrants or red hydrants with yellow rings. The color indicated that the water comes from a public supply system.

Violet

If you see a blue hydrant in North Dakota, that means the water comes from a lake or pond.

Blue

Blue hydrants have the highest GPM (500 or more). These would be placed where there are much larger structures measuring 70x70x40 ft.

Black 

According to Firehouse.com , fire hydrants are painted black when water isn't flowing properly and the hydrant needs repair. This could also mean that it is a low-water volume area.

Keep in mind: These are what the colors signify nationally; Different areas could make a slightly different code/system. So, while generally, this is what the different colors are known to mean, it could vary from place to place.