Suspicious Fire Destroys School Playground Set

An apparent arson fire destroyed playground equipment at Circle View Elementary School in Huntington Beach early Friday morning, just days before children were scheduled to return from the holidays.

Students and their parents, who worked hard to raise $65,000 for play equipment installed at the school just last year, were outraged.

“My children are in tears,” said Geno Mulcahy, who has two daughters attending the school.

Fire and police officials had few details on the fire Friday, except that it appeared to be started intentionally and “with malicious intent.”

The colorful structure of slides, bridges and ladders was one of two bought in December 1999 after the school’s parent-teacher group sold gift wrapping and cookie dough, and held a jog-a-thon to raise the $65,000.

On Friday afternoon, children stared at the melted yellow plastic slides and collapsed climbing structure in disgust.

“What kind of person burns a little kids’ playground?” said Julie Vinciguerra, 14, whose younger siblings attend the school.

Carol Kanode, board president of Ocean View School District, said, “It’s sad and outrageous that someone would commit arson on school property. I’m particularly sad because parents raised so much money for that new equipment. It’s a heartbreaker.”

Kanode said she thinks the property was insured. She added that she will work with arson investigators.

The fire started about 2 a.m. at the play structure, behind the school on Hooker Drive and next to Valley View Park.

School officials estimated the damage at about $15,000.

Mulcahy’s wife, Patty, said she was heartbroken. “Who would do that to us?” she said.

“We all feel that it was our play equipment because we raised money for it the last two years.”

Neighbors heard children playing with firecrackers in the area a few days before the blaze, said Geno Mulcahy.

Deputy Fire Marshal Dan Madrigal said investigators were still looking into the cause of the blaze Friday afternoon.

“We can’t tell a whole lot at this point,” he said. “It appears to be intentionally set, with malicious intent.”

Maintenance workers for the school district had wrapped the damaged part of the structure with thick plastic netting by Friday afternoon.

They said work would be done during the weekend to remove at least the damaged part before school reopens Monday.

Anyone with information on the fire is asked to call (714) 536-5411.