The playground at Twin Lakes went up in flames just before 6 p.m. Monday, and Capital City Fire\/Rescue firefighters believe it was an act of arson.<\/p>\n
Assistant Fire Chief Ed Quinto said CCFR is investigating the fire as having been intentionally set.<\/p>\n
Witness reports said the fire spread quickly and then completely engulfed the playground in a matter of minutes. Area resident Marina Lindsey was among those who saw the fire when it first began, and she said it was \u201cvery small\u201d when she saw it and that it started in the boat structure. She said she saw several children in the playground at the time, but wasn\u2019t sure if they had any involvement.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is so sad,\u201d Lindsey said. \u201cIt was such an amazing project.\u201d<\/p>\n
No injuries were reported, CCFR confirmed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we got on scene, there was a mother looking for her missing child,\u201d Quinto said. Juneau Police Department officers were able to help her locate the child, whom Quinto described as grade school age, outside of the immediate area of the playground.<\/p>\n
Throngs of spectators crowded the area Monday evening, as firefighters knocked down the blaze. The fire began around 5:45 p.m. and was largely extinguished by 6:30 p.m. The fire engines poured water over the playground, which has a rubber ground and many structures that are made out of recycled materials.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe breeze is not helping at all,\u201d said Assistant Fire Marshal Sven Pearson. \u201cIt\u2019s amazing how fast it went up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pearson declined to provide more information about the cause of the fire, saying it remains under investigation.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s like a big tire fire,\u201d Quinto said on scene. \u201cIt will be burning for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n
The playground appeared almost totally destroyed. Quinto put the damage estimate over $250,000.<\/p>\n
A giant plume of black smoke billowed over the area, attracting a crowd of local residents. Many were emotional, and one girl commented she felt like she was watching her childhood go up in flames.<\/p>\n
Eight-year-old Eileena St. Clair choked back sobs as she and her mother, Miranda, watched the playground burn.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was thinking of coming here, if my mom would let me, so I could fly my kite and my mom could fly the kite I got her,\u201d Eileena said.<\/p>\n
Miranda St. Clair said her daughter came to the park once or twice a week, especially because it is a Pokestop for Pokemon Go players.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was just here this weekend,\u201d she said, as Eileena chimed in forlornly, \u201cI met new friends.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen she was little, she would refuse to leave,\u201d Miranda said. \u201cShe would just lay down on the top of one of the castles, on the floor, and I would have to climb all the way up there \u2026 and carry her down, kicking and screaming.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eileena appeared doubtful the playground could be replaced, asking, \u201cWhat if they don\u2019t remember how to fix it?\u201d<\/p>\n