Another playground was targeted by arsonists late Thursday night, this time in the White Oaks area.
London firefighters responded to the playground at Rick Hansen Public School near Jalna Blvd. and Bradley Ave. at around 11:30 p.m.
A shopping cart full of garbage and wooden sticks had been set ablaze, but it was extinguished before it spread to any of the playground equipment nearby.
There was also another suspected arson around the same time Thursday night.
Fire crews responded to a report of a car-port on fire at a now vacant former group home near Oxford St. and Wharncliffe Rd. which resulted in $30,000 in damage. Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze before it spead to the home.
Over the past three days, there’ve now been four suspicious fires in London, and at least seven since last month — including five targeting playgrounds.
London Police Chief John Pare tells AM980 crime analysts are working to identify patterns or trends that are based on something in the past or recently.
“Most of the fires have been happening between 3 and 4 o’clock in the morning but that doesn’t necessarily mean that that pattern would continue if we continue to see these fires. But we’re just asking officers to be more vigilant in their patrols of as they’re going through the neighbourhoods and hopefully identify anyone that might be out and about that we’re not sure why they’re there and stop and speak to them about their reasons.”
Chief Pare is also calling on Londoners to help keep watch.
“Many of these parks are surrounded by residents. We just ask that they be just as vigilant as we are and if they notice something suspicious or they notice people hanging around in the parks. They need to contact police so we can investigate.”
So far this week, playgrounds at Rick Hansen Public School and St.Jude Elementary School have been targeted.
Last Wednesday, the playground in nearby Jesse Davidson Park was torched in a suspected arson case. Fire crews were called to a fire at that playground near Viscount Rd. and Andover Dr. at around 4 a.m. There was $25,000 damage in that blaze.
The same fire crew responded to a playground fire behind Arthur Ford Public School on Viscount Rd just over one month ago on July 12th. It appears as if vandals set fire to the playground area, melting a slide and several other pieces of plastic equipment. There was $50,000 damage reported in that fire and the playground has since been removed.
London Police also confirmed last week that some playground equipment at St.Jude Elementary School was damaged in an early morning fire on July 31st.
Anyone with information is being asked to contact London Police at 519-661-5670 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Source: Two More Fires Overnight, White Oaks Area Playground Targeted | (CFPL AM) AM 980
