By Cathy Locke
clocke@sacbee.com
Two 11-year-olds and an 8-year-old were cited Sunday for starting a fire that damaged a play structure at Freeport Elementary School in Sacramento's Meadowview area.
Firefighters responded at 2:27 p.m. to a report of a wood chip fire at the school at 2118 Meadowview Road. Engine Company 17, located at 24th Street and Gardendale Road would ordinarily have responded and arrived within four to five minutes, but it was committed to a water rescue at the time, according to a Sacramento Fire Department news release. Instead, Engine Company 57, located at Franklin Boulevard and East Parkway, was the first company on scene, arriving eight minutes after dispatch.
The fire was extinguished within two minutes. But because of the extended response time, officials said, the wood chip fire had spread to the play structure, causing significant damage.
Arson investigators responded, and the three youngsters were located within an hour. The children remained in the custody of their guardians.
Fire officials noted that the Firefighters Burn Institute sponsors the Juvenile Fire Setters Program, designed to educate juveniles about the dangers associated with setting fires. For more information about the program, call (888) 452-7233 or go to www.firesetter.com.
Call The Bee's Cathy Locke, (916) 321-5287.
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