Boston fire recruits dig out hydrants

BOSTON (AP) -- Boston is putting its fire department recruits to work making the city safer after the blizzard.

The city on Tuesday deployed 54 recruits from the firefighting academy across the city to dig out fire hydrants still buried under massive snowdrifts.

They were dispatched in teams of 10 to East Boston, Roxbury, Allston, and Charlestown following an inspirational speech from Commissioner Roderick Fraser. They will move to other parts of the city as needed.

Fraser reminded the recruits that their duties involve more than putting out fires, and they serve the citizens of Boston.

The city has about 13,000 hydrants.

The city also announced that an on-street parking ban will be lifted at 6 p.m. Tuesday and public school classes will resume Wednesday.