Vandals attacked a century-old bell outside the Merced Fire Department headquarters.
It happened Wednesday night at the department on 16th Street. The bell is now cracked along its base.
Firefighters say it only took minutes to destroy the artifact that's been around since 1910.
"It's unfortunate, its sad. I grew up in this city and so you know the history of the fire department is important to me and to destroy something like that is kind of sad. You don't expect something like that to happen at a fire station," says Captain Billy Alcorn.
Said Battalion Chief Sean Henry, "Its not like they were trying to steal it for financial gain or anything. They were just trying to destroy it. Just a senseless act of vandalism."
The suspect also knocked out a window in the fire station garage using lumber from a nearby construction site.
It happened Wednesday night at the department on 16th Street. The bell is now cracked along its base.
Firefighters say it only took minutes to destroy the artifact that's been around since 1910.
"It's unfortunate, its sad. I grew up in this city and so you know the history of the fire department is important to me and to destroy something like that is kind of sad. You don't expect something like that to happen at a fire station," says Captain Billy Alcorn.
Said Battalion Chief Sean Henry, "Its not like they were trying to steal it for financial gain or anything. They were just trying to destroy it. Just a senseless act of vandalism."
The suspect also knocked out a window in the fire station garage using lumber from a nearby construction site.