Two 14-year-old boys ticketed after playground fire

Two 14-year-old boys have been ticketed for unlawful possession of fireworks after a fire that destroyed a Carpentersville playground, authorities say.

The playground equipment at Grandview Park, located near the intersection of Westwood and Grandview drives, melted in the Sunday fire, said Dave Peterson, executive director of the Dundee Township Park District. He estimates it will cost $100,000 to replace the equipment, which is insured. No one was injured.

The playground will remain closed until the equipment can be replaced.

Carpentersville Police Chief Patrick Hoey said the two 14-year-old boys, one from Carpentersville and one from Algonquin, were lighting fireworks at the park. Hoey said the two boys told investigators they were unaware that the fireworks caused the fire at the park.

Hoey said the mulch in the playground caught fire. It quickly spread to the plastic playground equipment. A resident called 911. When firefighters arrived, the playground was fully involved in the fire, Hoey said.