Fire chief: 'Definitely incendiary in nature'

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake Police are investigating a possible case of arson at a local playground.

A fire was reported on the playground equipment at a Moses Lake apartment complex, Moses Lake Estates, located at 845 E. Hill Ave., Friday morning at roughly 7:30 a.m.

The fire department and police responded to the scene, off of Hill Avenue where complex managers Sam and Dee Quiroz had already extinguished the fire. The fire department insured the fire was out and began their investigation.

Fire department Chief Tom Taylor said damages were minor.

"Definitely incendiary in nature," he said. "Sounds like this was intentionally set. It actually started up in the equipment itself, not in the bark down below, so it's probably been burning a good 10 to 15, 20 minutes anyway, depending on if there was an accelerant used."

Taylor and Moses Lake Police Officer John Perez estimated damages to the equipment to be about $2,000.

"We're going to turn it over to the police department for the investigation for it being arson," Taylor said. "We'll assist them."