Fire Hydrant Vandals in Mississippi Pose Threat to Property, Lives

June 27, 2008

Officials with the Laurel, Mississippi Fire Department are concerned that some recent vandalism to the city’s fire hydrants could pose problems when its time to save property or someone’s life.

Fire Chief David E. Chance says the fire department reported to police the recent vandalism of several fire hydrants.

Fire Battalion Chief Alfred Jordan said the majority of the vandalism involves caps on the fire hydrants being stolen.

Chance says people don’t realize the danger the thefts pose.

He says the missing caps “impedes the fire department process of getting water.”

Jordan says if the thieves remove the steamer cap from the hydrants, there’s no way firefighters to use that hydrant.
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Information from: Laurel Leader-Call, http://www.leadercall.com