Multiple playground fires have Tulsa police and fire asking for the public’s help

TULSA, Okla. — Tulsa Police and Fire Department investigators are hoping tips from the public will help determine how a playground pirate ship caught fire early Friday morning at Helmerich Park.

According to the parks department and Tulsa Fire PIO Andy Little, this is the second time playground equipment has caught fire.

Back in September 2022, playground equipment at Zeigler Park in west Tulsa was also damaged in a fire.

Melted metal plates, flags and poles are all that remains of a plastic pirate ship that offered kids a place to play at the park. A park that underwent a renovations only a few years ago in 2020.

“It’s more of a possibility that there was potentially some accelerant used or at least someone had a plan with a purpose of setting that on fire,” noted Little.

He said the call came in at 12:40 a.m., with engine 29 responding quickly from 72nd and Lewis. Fire investigators were also called out to the scene.

While Little said they know the fire was intentionally set, they don’t know if it’s arson.

“In order for a fire to be ruled arson it has to be willful and malicious,” he explained. “Someone has to maliciously and willfully, intentionally set fire to that structure.”

The estimated financial loss due to both playground fires is $500,000, according to Deputy Director of Tulsa Parks, Culture and Recreation Stacie Martin.

The damage impacts families who enjoy visiting the parks year round, like Thi Nguyen and her two-year-old son Taylor.

“It took me about twenty minutes to drive to here, but because it’s a great place, it has space to play, and the playground’s so good, yeah so yeah, really sad for me,” she said.

She said she hopes it was just an accidental fire.

Both the Tulsa Police Department and the Tulsa Fire Department are investigating the cause of the fire and trying to find out who is responsible. They’re urging anyone with information about the fire in the park, which is located on Riverside drive, to call Tulsa Crime Stoppers at 918-596- COPS.

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