Thieves Target Fire Extinguisher Fittings
HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) -- The Hagerstown fire marshal says scrap-metal thieves are targeting brass fittings on fire-extinguisher systems inside commercial buildings.
Fire Marshal Doug DeHaven told The Herald-Mail of Hagerstown on Tuesday that authorities have made an arrest in one such case.
He says brass valves were stolen from a fire-extinguishing system in a parking garage. Thieves are targeting metals such as brass and copper to sell to scrap metal dealers at historically high prices.
DeHaven says such systems enable firefighters to connect to a water source on a building's upper floor rather than dragging water hoses up flights of stairs.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
