A San Francisco park was badly burned by a fire Thursday night, turning slides and play areas into black char.
Firefighters responded to Sue Bierman Park near the Ferry Building at 11:30 p.m. where they found a beloved neighborhood play structure consumed by flames. The site is the only playground within half a mile and is visited by more than 1,000 children.
Fire crews were able to successfully extinguish the blaze, but it destroyed a slide, a pirate ship and rubber safety surfacing, park officials reported. The area will remain closed for the next week.
"This is heartbreaking and infuriating," Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg said. "This playground was a dream that neighborhood families worked very hard to achieve."
Sue Bierman Park opened in 2011 after months of avocation by dedicated community members. The playground, which carried a hefty price tag of $870,000, was funded mainly through private donations and corporate sponsorships.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the San Francisco Fire Department and the police department.
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