Residents of Cokato woke up to an unexpected and costly surprise on Sunday when it was discovered that multiple fire hydrants had been illegally opened overnight. According to Wright County Minnesota, the act of vandalism was first reported by a driver who witnessed water gushing from a fire hydrant near Hwy 12 and County Road 4 SW. The Wright County Deputy who responded to the scene confirmed that five fire hydrants had been tampered with between the late hours of Saturday and early Sunday morning.
The consequences of such a seemingly small act of mischief were anything but trivial. Wright County reported that by the time the spraying hydrants were shut off, over one million gallons of water had been wasted. Efforts to contain the damage and prevent further strain on the local water system quickly unfolded, with the Cokato Fire Department and Cokato Public Works coming together to manage the fallout. The county is actively seeking to hold responsible the person or persons who decided to wantonly let that water be wasted.
As the investigation into the incident continues, the Wright County Sheriff's Office eagerly solicits assistance from the public. "The Wright County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating this incident and is asking anyone with any information to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 763-682-1162," as stated in their public appeal.
_01.jpg){kind=link}