By Kim Ring
The Telegram & Gazette
SPENCER, Mass. — Firefighters looked like Joe Namath yesterday morning as they made their way to the Big Y to buy pantyhose, but not to make a commercial like the football legend did 30-odd years ago.
Instead, they used the hosiery to help melt ice off the roofs at town schools, based on the suggestion of School Superintendent Ralph E. Hicks, who said he saw a news story on the pantyhose technique.
According to www.thisoldhouse.com, one can “fill the leg of a discarded pair of panty hose with a calcium chloride ice melter. Lay the hose onto the roof so it crosses the ice dam and overhangs the gutter. If necessary, use a long-handled garden rake or hoe to push it into position.” The ice will begin to melt.
Fire Chief Robert P. Parsons said he and the other firefighters who made the purchase when the store opened got some strange looks as he selected several pairs of Hanes Control-top pantyhose and checked out.
“The lady was looking at me kind of strange, and she asked if I wanted her to put them in a bag,” Chief Parsons said, laughing. “I told her, `No. We’re going to use these right away,’ and she was like, `Oh really?’ I told her it wasn’t what she thought.”
The chief said he’s hoping the salt-filled hosiery works to clear the ice dams, because water was backing up over some of the school doors.
Firefighters also cleared snow from the roof of Wire Village School yesterday morning and worked to clear problem areas on the roof of Knox Trail Junior High School Monday and yesterday.
When David Prouty High School’s roof was being checked yesterday afternoon, firefighters discovered three broken skylights and covered them with tarps. Snow had fallen into one of the hallways inside the school. Chief Parsons said the damage was minor and their makeshift repairs should hold out through the winter.
The Fire Department has been wonderful, Mr. Hicks said.
“They spent seven hours up there,” he said, adding that East Brookfield firefighters cleaned the elementary school roof in East Brookfield, too.
Chief Parsons said firefighters were unable to shovel out hydrants yesterday and asked residents to clear the hydrants and to keep all exits from their homes free of snow. He also urged drivers to keep their vehicles parked on private property, because the roads are narrowed from the accumulated snow and emergency equipment and plowing operations could be hampered.
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