ROCHESTER, N.Y. — When Rochester firefighers arrive at the scene of a house fire, they never know exactly what to expect. In the winter months, there can be even more obstacles to overcome; everything from slippery streets, frozen hose lines and those hidden fire hydrants, buried under snow.

"We've got map books in the trucks, we've got them on the computer, there's indicators telling us where they are, but we just waste a lot of valuable time if we have to dig out a hydrant," said Bart Joseph, RFD acting deputy fire chief.

That was not the case Wednesday morning for Rochester firefighters when they arrived at the scene of a house fire on Spencer Street.

"And we're lucky enough here that, someone did clear their fire hydrant for us," Joseph said.

Fire officials say the harsh weather is a good time to encourage friends and neighbors to learn more about the Adopt a Fire Hydrant program.

"If you live in the county, the city, what not, find a fire hydrant, dig it out, clear it three feet away, around from it, that will definitely help us," Joseph said.

Fire officials say adopting a fire hydrant is a simple task and can make a big difference when it comes to saving a structure or a life.

Some municipalities like the city of Rochester provide maps on their websites with locations of hydrants that you or your organization can adopt.