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SF school unveils new play structure only months after destructive fire
Students, staff and school and city officials turned out at a ribbon-cutting for the new playground at Lafayette Elementary School in SFs Outer Sunset, months after a fire destroyed the play structure.
OAKLAND, Calif. - A playground at a school in San Francisco's Outer Sunset neighborhood that burnt down in May reopened Wednesday to great fanfare.
What we know:
The blaze that destroyed the playground at Lafayette Elementary School was one of two fires that damaged school property that month.
The first fire, on May 1, destroyed items in the PTA’s shed, including spirit wear and carnival games that had been used for years. The second fire destroyed the rubber mats that lined the play area and gutted the play structure.
Oakland woman gunned down while going to pick up niece, nephew
Carla Lee was fatally shot outside her East Oakland home Monday evening while heading to pick up her niece and nephew.
Later that same week, San Francisco police officers patrolling the area in plainclothes observed a man "igniting objects" while walking in a nearby park.
Officers then saw a "large active working fire" and called the San Francisco Fire Department to extinguish the blaze.
Arrest made in playground case
Dig deeper:
Officers later arrested 29-year-old Joseph Martinez, on suspicion of arson, possession of an incendiary device, and possession of amphetamine, in connection with the fire at Lafayette Elementary.
The Source: Interviews with Lafayette Elementary School staff, parents, and students.