Earlier this week, a second fire broke out at Lafayette Elementary School around 10:30 p.m. on May 18, completely destroying the school’s playground. All that was left of the structure when devastated parents arrived at the school the next morning was twisted metal, rubble and ash. Fortunately, no one was hurt.
Over the next few days, parents and school staff helped to clean up the site. Many of them also volunteered to decorate the fence surrounding the playground. It is now adorned with a colorful display of ribbons and flowers, Albert said.
On Wednesday, community members met with school officials and local authorities to discuss the fire and to figure out the next steps.
Parents expressed concern over the safety of their children, some of whom were coming home from school with soot and ash on their clothes. The school assured them that emergency procedures were in place, and a cleaning crew was sent out to clear away the debris, Albert said.
Another parent asked whether the fire at Lafayette had any connection to the one at Lincoln Park. According to Albert, it was the first time any of them had heard the word “arson” being used to describe what may have happened.
“We understand that two incidents in a short time are concerning, and we are working closely with the Fire Department to investigate both cases,” Katrina Kincade, a spokesperson for the San Francisco Unified School District, said in a statement to KQED. “Until the investigation is complete, we are not making assumptions about the causes of the fires.”
A few hours after the community meeting ended on Wednesday, firefighters responded to another emergency call at Lincoln Park around 11 p.m. A second fire had occurred at the park’s play structure, and the damage was far worse than before.
According to Daniel Montes, a spokesperson for the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department, the playground was almost entirely destroyed. All that remains is a small play area for toddlers that was untouched by the fire.
“It’s disheartening to see vandalism in any park,” Montes said. “The play area has been effectively destroyed, and this is a treasured space for kids and families in the Richmond neighborhood. We are still trying to assess the damage, but it is closed off to the public for now.”
As summer vacation starts, Albert said she’s trying to figure out new ways to keep her children entertained outdoors without some of the play structures that were previously available.
“One of the reasons many of us live and love living in Outer Richmond is because we have a more mellowed feel while still being in the city. Our kids are able to go out and be in the neighborhood and play,” she said. “It’s really quite sad and disheartening that they no longer have the spaces that have been burned.”
