7/25/02
Arson is suspected in the fire that destroyed the playground at Rose Hill Elementary School on Monday, July 22, with damages estimated in the $85,000 range, according to Lt. Lorenzo Thrower, a Fairfax County Fire and Rescue information specialist.
"The fire was incendiary by nature," Thrower said, which indicates possible arson, he added.
A neighbor, who saw the smoke from her car while on nearby Franconia Road, was in shock as she got closer to the school. She chose not to have her name used because of her status as a witness.
"I was coming by the school and saw two cars flying, they came from the very back. I ran in, called 911 and went into my neighbors yard and watched it. It was a circle of fire, you could tell it was set. We just stood there and watched it melt," she said.
According to her, there were several calls on the fire; the fire officials on the scene told her she was not the first.
Maria Inturias, who spoke through her daughter Sylvia Zenteno who acted as interpreter, was in her kitchen when she noticed the smoke. Her backyard borders the playground.
"The fire was out to the trees, the wind was blowing this way, it was very fast," she said. She was afraid it would catch on to something in her yard and ran to the front.
Zenteno was counting her blessings.
"We are lucky, sometimes we go after five to the park with the kids," she said.
The fire occurred at about 4:45 p.m. according to Thrower.
Paul Regnier, Fairfax County public schools information specialist, said the matter would be investigated and it would be determined if the playground needs to be completely rebuilt, or some of the existing structures could be salvaged.
"They would probably update it," he said.
This playground was paid for with bond money when the school was renovated, according to Regnier, and there is insurance.