Fire officials are pondering who (Smokey the Bear maybe?) placed signs calling attention to two out-of-service fire hydrants.

Printed on the signs was a simple question: “Really???” The phrase “10 YEARS” and a cartoon fire hydrant were also included. Propped up with wire stakes, the signs are similar to political campaign yard posters.

Fire Chief Tom Joyce said he wasn’t sure who might have placed the signs. As of July 8 they had been removed.

One sign was found next to a hydrant on Route 105 in Rochester near the Pines at Hathaway Pond real estate development; the other was placed on Delano Road in Marion.

Joyce said he couldn’t say too much about the Route 105 hydrant since it’s out of the department’s jurisdiction. “It’s not a hydrant we would normally use,” he said, adding it’s been out of service for a number of years. Joyce, who joined the department four years ago, said he’s unsure how long exactly the hydrant’s been out of commission.

The hydrant is located on a main line that pumps water into Marion from a Rochester source. Those pipes are maintained by Marion’s Department of Public Works.

On Delano Road, the broken hydrant is scheduled for repair, Joyce said. Already, two fire hydrants were replaced on that street last fall.

When the three hydrants were originally put in “shut off gates” were not installed, which has slowed progress.

The gates allow firefighters to maintain and repair hydrants without shutting down the water main those hydrants are linked to.

“When we have to make repairs we try to do so without inconveniencing the public too much,” Joyce said.

There are other hydrants on Delano Road the department can access during an emergency. There is no public safety issue, Joyce said.

Together, the Fire Department and the Water and Sewer Department work closely to ensure the town’s hydrant’s stay in service.

“[DPW Superintendent] Rob Zora has been very responsive. Sometimes, within the hour, we will get a call letting us know a hydrant is out of service,” Joyce said. “When a hydrant absolutely needs to be repaired we take whatever action is necessary.”