Missing Fire Hydrant Caps

Should missing fire hydrant caps be reported to 311? Though the operators weren’t sure if missing caps on fire hydrants is a problem or not, they’re happy to take the information about them and send the DEP to look at them.

An article on Firefighter Nation explains that though it’s not completely dangerous, missing caps are not what firefighters want to find when they show up and need to use one:

Missing hydrant caps are a concern. If the discharge of choice is missing its cap, all is well because you’re going to use that discharge anyway. But when we need to use the steamer connection and one or more caps is missing from the other connections, that becomes a problem, especially in the forward-lay, where the hydrant firefighter is often alone, without any help or extra equipment.

So if you notice any missing ones in the neighborhood, consider reporting them by calling 311 or by filing a report online.