October 31, 2026
ST. LOUIS — A St. Louis fire captain has received the city’s Excellence in Service Award after developing an emergency device that allowed firefighters to restore access to more than 85 fire hydrants damaged by metal thieves.
Capt. Bradley Trower was recognized Friday by Mayor Cara Spencer and Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson for designing an adapter that enabled firefighters to connect their equipment to hydrants that had been rendered inoperable.
According to city officials, thieves removed brass valves from the hydrants to sell as scrap metal, creating an emergency response problem for surrounding neighborhoods.
Trower developed and assembled a temporary solution overnight, allowing firefighters to resume using the damaged hydrants rather than waiting for full replacements.
The city credited his work with helping restore firefighting capabilities in affected neighborhoods. The device is also intended to work with hydrants whose threads have become worn, according to Fire Department officials.
Replacing the damaged equipment would have been costly because the older hydrants are no longer manufactured, Fire Chief Jenkerson told local television station First Alert 4. The department plans to replace outdated models over time.
Officials recognized Trower at Fire Department headquarters on North Jefferson Avenue. The department’s response illustrates how a practical solution developed by a local firefighter addressed a serious public safety concern while the city works toward longer-term repairs.
