Crime & Safety

Police: Fire Hydrant Mischief Impacts Guilford's Firefighting Abilities

Those responsible may have felt it was harmless late-night fun, but the incidents left the town's hydrant system "without an adequate supply of water to fight a major fire had one occurred at the time," police said.

Guilford Police are investigating a series of incidents this weekend where town fire hydrants were uncapped and drained — leaving the system's water pressure dangerously low for firefighting.

And police are asking for the public's help in tracking down those responsible for the criminal mischief. 

Five Reported Cases

According to Sgt. Dane Lawrence, during the overnight hours of Thursday night into Friday morning the the department investigated two reported cases of criminal mischief to fire hydrants:

  • Three Mile Course
  • Colonial Road
And then, overnight Friday night into early Saturday morning, three more incidents were reported:
  • Schoolside Lane
  • Stonehouse Lane
  • East River Road
In all five cases, the fire hydrants were uncapped and opened up by unknown individuals, Lawrence said.

'Without An Adequate Supply of Water'

"The open hydrants flooded their respective ares for an unknown amount of time until discovered and secured," Lawrence stated in a press release. 

Lawrence added that the resulting drop in water pressure and supply "left the town without an adequate supply of water to fight a major fire had one occurred at the time, according to Connecticut Water Company personnel."

Class D Felony

Guilford Police are asking anyone with any information about these incidents to contact the department at 203-453-8061 or via e-mail through the Department website.

The parties responsible may be charged with first-degree criminal mischief, which is a Class D Felony — with a penalty of incarceration up to 5 years and/or a fine up to $5,000, Lawrence said.

"Other charges may also apply, as well as civil penalties," Lawrence noted in the release.


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