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.
A playground at Sue Bierman Park was destroyed by a fire Thursday night.San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department
"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.
A playground at Sue Bierman Park was destroyed by a fire Thursday night.San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the San Francisco Fire Department and the police department.
