Police say young people caught on tape setting fire
By ROBIN FITZGERALD
Biloxi Sun-Herald

GULFPORT -- Surveillance cameras at Bel-Aire Elementary filmed several young people as they gathered pine straw and set the school playground on fire Friday, authorities said.

The blaze heavily damaged one of two sets of colorful playground equipment in a fire possibly started on a 2-inch layer of rubber padding. The padding was on top of a concrete slab, a safety feature to cushion the falls of kids using the slides and climbing bars. The fire melted the yellow slides and a blue canvas covering that offered a bit of shade.

"I'm talking first-class playground equipment," said Henry Arledge, superintendent of the Harrison County School District. "It's very expensive equipment, probably between $15,000 and $30,000." [More]

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