2 siblings responsible for Spanish Fork playground fire, police say


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SPANISH FORK — Two siblings — an 11-year-old boy and an 8-year old girl — are responsible for a fire at Park Elementary in Spanish Fork, police said.

Police located the pair today after searching for children seen running away from a fire near the playground structure at Park Elementary located at 90 N. 600 East.

The fire melted all plastic equipment at the park and eventually spread to the school building.

“The school is brick but the eaves are wood so some of that burned,” said Spanish Fork Police Lt. Matt Johnson. “The playground is mostly plastic and is considered a total loss.”

Sgt. Courtney Jones of the Spanish Fork Police Department said the estimated damage to the playground equipment is $10,000-$15,000, and the estimated damage to the school building is estimated at $5,000-$6,000.

"They were simply playing with a lighter. They ignited some wood chips, which they thought they put out, and then the wind fueled that fire and got it going," Jones said.

Jones said the children were cooperative, remorseful and scared about what they had done.

"As most kids do, they tend to play because fire is interesting they like to look at it," Jones said.

Child psychologists say fire starting is common among children and teenagers, because fire is attractive and exciting. They light fires because they're curious or they want to impress their peers.

If children light fires a couple of times, therapists say it's probably not a big deal. But if the pattern persists, and the child deliberately sets fires to damage property or shows other troubling behavior like animal cruelty, it might be a good idea to bring in a counselor.

Dr. Doug Goldsmith, Executive Director at The Children's Center in Salt Lake City, said a good strategy for discouraging children from starting fires includes offering them a dollar or two each time they find a lighter or a matchbook and bring it to you. That way they have an incentive to not play with fire.

Jones said juvenile court will determine the best punishment for the siblings.

"There was no intent to cause any damage. So, basically the charges that we were looking at was a reckless burning charge," he said.

Contributing: Robynn Garfield

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