Roosevelt School fire labeled arson

Arson is suspected in a school yard fire at Roosevelt Elementary School that destroyed more than $30,000 worth of playground equipment on Friday afternoon.

Assistant Fire Chief Bill Lynch said people were seen in the area of the Davis Street school just prior to the blaze, leading investigators to assume the fire that destroyed several pieces of playground equipment was intentionally set.

"There's nothing out there to spark the fire anyway," Lynch said. "There's no gas running to the playground, no electricity. With no other ignition factors, we have to believe it was an intentional act."

The Hanford Fire Department was called out to the school at 2:45 p.m. to reports of smoke in the area. When they arrived, it was to find a square plot of wood chips burning in the middle of campus.

Two engines and seven firefighters responded to the scene. The fire was under control within 10 minutes of their arrival.

Lynch estimated the value of the destroyed equipment, which included a jungle gym with an attached slide and a swing set, as being more than $30,000.

The school was apparently closed at the time of the fire.

"This kind of loss is going to be pretty substantial to the school district," Lynch said.

The Hanford Elementary School District could not be reached for comment on the incident.

Anyone with information about this fire is asked to contact the Hanford Police Department at 585-2540.

Reporter Melissa Knopp contributed to this report.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2425.

(June 26, 2009)