School playground slide set ablaze

SAUGUS – Parents, students and teachers are disheartened that someone set a playground slide on fire at the Veterans Memorial School playground last week.The fire department responded to the Hurd Avenue school about 8 p.m. Nov. 9 after someone reported the slide was on fire. Firefighters extinguished the blaze but later discovered a trash barrel had also been set ablaze.”Not only was this destructive, but it could have led to a larger fire hazard in the neighborhood,” Veterans principal Uri Harel wrote in a letter to parents. “I am determined to find out who did this and to have them held accountable for this crime. If you have any information about who is responsible, please contact the police department or me.”Saugus Police Detective Lenoard Campanello vowed the department would conduct a complete investigation.”We’re very disturbed by it and we’re working all the angles,” Campanello said. “We want to make sure we do a thorough investigation.”Campanello said Monday that no surveillance cameras are in the area of the playground. Officials aren’t sure how much the slide would cost to repair.”We’re upset because it’s a school ground where kids play,” he said.If you have information on this case call Saugus police at 781-233-1740.