Arson at Las Piedras Park directed at highly popular kids’ play structure

By Peggy Kelly Santa Paula Times Santa Paula Police are investing a fire that damaged-possibly beyond repair-the elaborate and highly popular children’s play structure at Las Piedras Park Tuesday afternoon.

The incident occurred March 4 when Santa Paula Fire and Police received reports of a fire at the park, located in the 400 block of North 13th Street.

According to Acting Fire Captain Jesse Phillips, “It came in to us as a miscellaneous fire, and was also called in to police as a structure fire... “

On their way to the scene “We were getting various reports that people were seeing a large header of black smoke,” coming from the area also observed by firefighters.

Engine 81 and Engine 82 as well as Assistant Fire Chief Kevin Fildes responded to the scene where they found the heavy black smoke was coming from the park’s children’s play structure as well as the rubber chips ground-covering.

Phillips said the fire was quickly knocked down by firefighters. “It was probably the blackest smoke I’ve seen,” and firefighters used, “Class A foam on it as well as the water,” to extinguish the flames.

The damage to the heavily used play equipment was estimated at $50,000 until it can be determined if the structure-which contains play equipment for younger children including enclosed slides-can be repaired or must be replaced.

Damage that cannot be calculated Phillips noted, is the loss of a favorite play area for neighborhood children.

The cause of the fire said Fildes, “Is arson... what evidence we have ruled out everything possible” that would point to an accident or natural causes. 

Due to the heat of the blaze and the nature of the material burned, “We have not determined whether or not an accelerant was used,” but the hard plastic and rubber “is hard to ignite. A couple of witnesses that saw the fire,” told investigators it would “grow in spots and diminish,” in others.

“But by the time we got there the fire was so hot,” firefighters were unable to determine what exactly was used to set the blaze, although “Based on the material there,” Fildes noted, “there was definitely something used to get it going.”

Interim Recreation Director Ed Mount said the city has submitted an incident report to its insurance carrier.