Fire at the Park by my house

I took this picture and posted on the PNJ Facebook page.  Talked with the reporter and this is the result.  I think he did a great job. What say You?
http://www.pnj.com/article/20131022/NEWS01/310220023/Fires-West-Pensacola-park-damage-playground


Two fires within two weeks have left charred surfaces and mounting expenses at a popular West Pensacola park.

Lexington Terrace Park, 700 S. Old Corry Field Road in Warrington, is a sprawling, green, 30-acre park with a playground, a community center, a dog park and a series of walking paths.

The park was serene Monday afternoon, but just a few hours earlier firefighters were at the park extinguishing a small electrical fire. The fire was put out quickly and caused very little damage beyond some charring of a pole and some of the rubberized surface of the playground, Escambia County Fire and Rescue said.

An Oct. 9 fire was far more destructive however, causing $50,000 worth of damage to the park’s rubberized fall surfaces and playground climbing netting, said Michael Rhodes, Escambia County Parks and Recreation Department director. The blaze happened overnight, and Rhodes said it appears the fire was not set intentionally.

“The park hours are from sunup to sundown, but folks are using grills and sometimes ashes will smolder late into the evening,” Rhodes said.

The park is located just minutes from Warrington Middle School and is highly utilized by families and children in the area. Although both fires happened at a time when there was little visitation at the park, neighborhood resident Paul Gillette said the recurring nature of the fires is troubling.

Gillette sent a picture of Monday’s blaze to the Pensacola News Journal and said that it was not the first time he had seen fires at the park. He said he has seen fires burning in trashcans around the area intermittently for nearly a year, and he think they are the work of vandals who are growing bolder with each blaze.

“What’s scary is they are very active. You see a pattern,” Gillette said.

Rhodes said that he was not aware of any vandalism of park trash cans or additional fires, but that public assistance was vital in curbing disturbances at any public park.

“Most times, we aren’t aware of issues that happen after regular park hours unless the public makes us aware.” he said. “If anyone sees drugs, graffiti or vandalism in our parks, call 911 and ask for immediate help.”

Good job HM.. When is the next bike ride thru Navy Point??

Soon Maybe this week. Need to check with my Boss. LOL

Sounds good to me....

Why do you keep setting the fires, man?

He's just trying to roast some hot dogs and marshmallows.. LOL

That rubber material... those ground-up tires? That outta burn real good!

Y'know, they found out that using a bunch of treated 4 x 4s to build playground equipment looked good and lasted a long time. Only thing is, they leach out arsenic into the soil.

Yes on the 4 X 4s They just rebuilt a park because of that. I think North Escambia cover it

Hey, I think they want you to call the fire department when you see that Sparky has set the park on fire, man.  

I'm confooosed about something, HG... Help me out.

The article said that this was a "small electrical fire," but I'm scratching my head wondering what on earth could or should be electrical in the middle of a kid's playground. Also, what is the upright structure that looks like fake rocks or something that's just to the right of the fire?

I know that none of this likely matters to anyone else, but my brain deals with details. Details, details!! lol

XO,
Ricecakes

I thought about the electrical fire source too.  I just assumed that there was some kind of recessed electrical box for lighting... but... DUH... the park is closed at night.

There would be no need for fancy spotlights if the park is closed at night.[hg]

HG, I just HAD to change the title of the thread from ny house to my house.

hallmarkgrad wrote:

You got it right.  There is not any electrical in the playground area He was quoting what the Park people told him.  It is a climbing rock with a openiing in it.  I think it might be make of fiberglass.  Not sure but I will check tomorrow,  Someone likes to burn things.  I bitch about the PNJ all the time but this reporter did a good job,. He seemed to be a good guy and was fun to talk to.  Might ask some of you to send him a thank you email  I will post his link as soon as I find it(again)

Roger that.

I think those artificial climbing rock thingies are indeed made of fiberglass, and as we all know, fiberglass lovvves to burn!

I would be happy to send him a thank you note if you give us his email address.  

HG, I just HAD to change the title of the thread from ny house to my house.

Censorship!!!!! I thought this was a open forum!!!LOL Thanks "n" or "m" next you will be telling me to mind my "p" and "q"s....................Thanks:cheers: 

krobinson4@pensacol.gannett.com ............Thanks in advance................

We burned an old 16-foot fiberglass boat at my dad's marina. It was reduced to the fiberglass cloth in about 10 minutes.

Man, that thing burned hot and put out a TON of black smoke.

hallmarkgrad wrote:

HG, I just HAD to change the title of the thread from ny house to my house.

Censorship!!!!!  I thought this was a open forum!!!LOL  Thanks  "n" or "m"  next you will be telling me to mind my "p" and "q"s....................Thanks:cheers: 

Whip me.

Beat me.

Call me Edna.

All in fun. I hope you know I was just joking. Thanks for all you do.

Eric wrote:

Whip me.

Beat me.

Call me Edna.

I have said that a bunch of times in jest, but never knew what it meant. One internet site said it was from an episode of Police Squad with Leslie Neilson.

I did find this YouTube video with that name, but the first 30 seconds didn't impress me.