Just after midnight on Sunday morning, SFFD responded to a fire at the Koret Children's Quarter Playground in Golden Gate Park. No one was injured, but residents detected the odor of burned plastic around Cole Valley and the Upper Haight.
The torched slide was located between Hippie Hill and Kezar Stadium. A historic carousel nearby, more than a century old, was not damaged. Police and fire officials are investigating the incident as arson.
"Playground equipment doesn't start on fire by itself," an official from San Francisco Fire Station 21 told Hoodline.
Was wondering what all the sirens were about, and then the smell hit me. Can't find news anywhere.
— Rissy La Touche (@RissyThings) June 25, 2017
On Kezar Drive, traffic was shut down as firefighters cut through a chain link fence and descended a steep hill with fire hoses. Other firefighters and police arrived near the Sharon Art Studio.
Via Twitter, San Francisco Recreation and Parks announced that the carousel would remain open today from 10am–6pm, but "sections of Koret Children's Playground in Golden Gate Park are closed today due to terrible acts of vandalism."
Sad news. Sections of Koret Children's Playground in Golden Gate Park are closed today due to terrible acts of vandalism... pic.twitter.com/E96RpFKZVP
— SF Rec and Park (@RecParkSF) June 25, 2017
Until the equipment at Koret Playground is repaired, Rec and Parks advises residents to use the 10th Avenue & Fulton Playground and the Rossi Playground at Arguello and Anza.
SFFD is asking anyone with information about this incident to call 415-920-2933.