Two 13-Year-Olds Are Suspected Playground Arsonists

Wednesday, January 5th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

When Jackson Elementary School Principal Debra Wiggins called a news conference in December to ask for help finding the arsonists that set fire to her brand new playground, she never dreamed the arsonists would be standing 15 feet away - two 13-year-old boys. The News on Six shot video of the boys playing on the same playground just minutes before school leaders and neighbors denounced the damage done by the fire.

Fire investigators say when they questioned the boys, the boys admitted setting the fire, but said they never meant to destroy anything. "One of them had a lighter,â€ explained Tulsa Fire Department assistant fire marshal Ron Shinnen. â€œThey had some common combustibles. They tried extinguishing it, but couldn't put it out and ran away."

Shinnen says most people have no idea how quickly a fire can spread or how much damage it can do. "Not enough adults know that a room can be fully engulfed in two minutes and 30 seconds,â€ he said. â€œBut especially kids at this age. They don't know fire can get away this fast."

The fire destroyed a $4,500 piece of equipment that had been donated to the school and installed just a few days before. Ironically, the toy was a miniature fire truck. "One of the juveniles made the remark that was his favorite toy,â€ Shinnen said. â€œI couldn't understand why he would do this. He explained he didn't have anything to do."

Shinnen says that the same boy said he was sorry for the fire and asked the school principal to forgive him, which she did. But it will take more than that to get the boys out of trouble. They face a possible felony charge of third degree arson. Shinnen says that's why it's so important to remind children to never play with fire. Both of the boys had attended Jackson Elementary before moving on to junior high school. Investigators credit principal Wiggins with identifying the suspects.