Playground Fire Investigation  Continues

By Andrew Gorosko

Police said this week they are continuing their criminal investigation into the intentionally set fire that destroyed the newly constructed Adventure Quest playground at Treadwell Park in Sandy Hook late last month.

Detective Robert Tvardzik said Wednesday police are awaiting the analysis of physical evidence from the fire scene by the state police forensic laboratory in Meriden. Town police have submitted samples of damaged materials from the fire scene to state police to learn how the fire was set and whether chemical accelerants were employed to speed the burning of the plastic, aluminum, and steel playground, designed for children 2 to 5 years old.

“We’re looking into information that’s come forward that might be related to the fire… We are checking,” Det Tvardzik said.

Police and fire officials have been working to learn who ignited the blaze believed to have been set about 10 pm October 25. Police believe that establishing a motive for why someone would want to destroy the playground may be a key in solving the crime. 

The crimes committed at the playground constitute reckless burning and first-degree criminal mischief, each of which are Class “D” felonies, and each of which are punishable by one to five years in prison and/or up to a $5,000 fine.

A surveillance camera positioned at the nearby park swimming pool captured evidence of the fire. The automatic camera photographs the area around the clock. No one reported the fire while it was underway on the foggy night. It occurred in an isolated area of the Sandy Hook park, not in plain sight from Philo Curtis Road. Parks and recreation department workers discovered the remains of the charred, molten playground about 7:30 the following morning.

Just three days earlier, volunteers had assembled the playground, which was nearly complete, but not yet open for use. The playground was handicapped-accessible. It consisted of a series of ramps, platforms, slides, and roofs. A community fund drive had raised the $15,000 cost of the equipment (see related story).

Detective Sergeant Henry Stormer, who is a deputy fire marshal, is heading the fire investigation for the police. Solving such cases is difficult, according to the sergeant.

 Sgt Stormer has said the fire burned for an hour or more before it burned itself out by exhausting its fuel supply.

After the plastic objects ignited, they melted, and dripped down to the ground in puddles where they refueled the blaze until the plastic burned itself out. The heat from the burning plastic caused vertical aluminum playground supports to melt.

Unless there is a witness to the crime, or someone admits to having set the fire, or someone who knows who set the fire comes forward, it can be very difficult to solve such a case, according to Deputy Fire Marshal Bill Halstead, who was one of the first investigators on the scene. Mr Halstead said anyone with information about the crime should contact the police.

The Connecticut arson tip award program offers a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to an arrest or conviction in an arson fire. The toll-free telephone number is 800/84 ARSON.