London Police say there is no indication a 19-year-old suspect charged with arson at a playground in the city’s north end is connected to a recent string of playground fires on Viscount Rd.
A 19-year-old suspect was arrested following an attempted arson Jack Chambers Public School on Hasting Dr., north of Fanshawe Park Road this morning.
London Fire crews were called to the area around 5:09 a.m. after a woman in the area spotted someone trying to set the playground on fire, but fled after she approached.
Police estimate the total damage in Wednesday morning’s case to be up to $6,000. There was damage to a metal platform, along with a plastic game board. Police say the gravel below the affected area will also have to be replaced.
Officials say the suspect’s name will not be released out of concern for his safety and well-being.
He is scheduled for a court date Oct. 1, 2015.
Although not connected, it’s the latest case after an increasing string of arsons at London playgrounds, the sixth so far.
Last Friday, fire crews were called to to the playground at Rick Hansen Public School in the White Oaks area.
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.
Fire crews also responded to a small fire at St. Jude Elementary School last week, the second time that playground was targeted. There was a previous report of fire damage at that location on July 31st.
On August 5th, 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.
Anyone with information is being asked to contact London Police at 519-661-5670 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
