Officials with the Laurel 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 has reported to police the recent vandalism of several fire hydrants.

Fire Battalion Chief Alfred Jordan said the majority of the vandalism involve instances where the caps on the fire hydrants have been taken.

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.