Fake Hydrant Reportedly Hoses Firefighters In Martha's Vineyard Fire

OAK BLUFFS (CBS) - Firefighters are reportedly taking some heat over a house fire on Martha's Vineyard on New Year's Day.

The Martha's Vineyard Patch is reporting that firefighters responding to the burning home on Spruce Avenue in Oak Bluffs lost valuable time when they tried to hook up hoses to a hydrant that turned out to be a lawn ornament.

"It was a real fire hydrant," Deputy Chief Tony R. Ferriera told the Patch. "We just didn't know it wasn't a working hydrant until we tried to hook up to it."

The hydrant, which was around the corner from the burning home, was reportedly inside a dog pen.

Ferriera acknowledged questions from critics and defended his crews, saying they are all volunteers and can't be expected to know the locations of every hydrant in town.

A person representing the homeowner also defended the firefighters, saying in the heat of the moment, with adrenaline rushing, firefighters are going to do anything they can to try and extinguish a fire.

There were no injuries from the fire, but the home suffered serious damage.