Kids Start Another Fireworks Blaze At Chamberlain Park Rec Center

For the second night in a row, people shooting fireworks set the roof on fire at Tulsa's Chamberlain Park.

On Thursday, the damage was slight; but police and firefighters became targets when they arrived to help.

The group began aiming the explosives at police, who chased after them to no avail.

Our cameras were there to capture it all.

07/05/2013 Related Story: Fireworks Aimed At Tulsa Police, Firefighters

On Friday night, the damage to the building was worse.

The roof of the Chamberlain Park Recreation Center was in the process of being replaced when the first fire was started.

Neighbors said kids were at it again the next evening, causing considerably more damage.

"We've seen worse Fourth of Julys and we've seen better, and this one will rank up as one of the worst," neighbor Jason Trent said.

Trent has had a front-row seat for the illegal fireworks show that more than 60 kids have been putting on since Monday.

Trent said he's grown accustomed to this type of activity at Chamberlain Park around the Fourth of July.

He has his water hose handy for fires that have been started on his side of the street by fireworks, but that's not what has him upset.

"We've waited so long for them to start doing improvements to the park, and they go and burn this roof and the materials they needed to fix our roof," he said.

Ron Donaldson with Magnum Construction was back on Friday surveying the new damage.

He said the first fire burned an area of about 20 square feet - the second, and area close to 250 square feet.

"The roof is scarred where the materials had been burning," Donaldson said.

The crew almost was finished with the roofing project when the back-to-back fires impeded the process.

"I thought these places were made for kids to come and have something to do," he said. "It's kinda ironic that it's being destroyed by kids with nothing to do."

No arrests have been made, but Tulsa police said they will be watching the area closely.

"Kids are supposed to be kids, it's wouldn't be right if they weren't, but it takes another element when you start doing damage," Trent said.

Contractors say as long as there isn't more damage, this should set the project back about a couple of days. They plan to start making repairs to the roof starting Monday.