The cable tray is about 2-feet wide and the sprinklers are standard uprights. The nearest fire hydrant seemed a good distance away, and while the firefighters were ultimately successful, the delay and the effort involved in getting enough water to the scene highlighted a critical element of fire safety: proper fire hydrant spacing. This isn't just about having hydrants; it's. Water is an efficient and effective agent for fire suppression because it is relatively cheap and readily available. In the United States, when we think of water for firefighting, we often think about fire hydrants. To ensure fire hydrants are readily available when needed, NFPA 1, Fire Code. NFPA 1 sets the rules for fire hydrant spacing, but fire flow demand, land use, and other factors all influence where hydrants must go and how far apart they can be.