Youngsters Blamed for Indiana Playground Fire

Investigators believe a group of 5- and 6-year-olds started a fire that destroyed playground equipment at a South Bend elementary school, police said Monday.

Officers located the 5- and 6-year-old brothers and a 5-year-old neighbor soon after Saturday’s fire at Harrison Primary Center and they admitted to starting the fire, city police Capt. Phil Trent told WSBT-TV.

The boys started the fire with a lighter, Trent said. The investigators will give their report to the St. Joseph County prosecutor’s office for a decision on how to handle the case, he said.

The fire destroyed the slide, melted steps and charred other parts of the playground set as thick black smoke poured from it before firefighters arrived at the school on the city’s west side. No injuries were reported.

Mitchell Mace, who lives across the street from the school, said he has reported problems before at the playground where his three children often play.

“Nobody seems to be able to get the right answer as to what can be done to be able to stop it,” Mace said.

The Fire Department estimated the damage at $10,000.

School Board member Dawn Jones said the district would have the playground repaired as soon as possible and that it wouldn’t interfere with the scheduled start of the school year next week. She said she hoped the damage would demonstrate for children the dangers of fire.