MASSILLON, Ohio -- Massillon firefighters are asking for the public's help in solving a case of playground arson.
Sunday evening, someone set fire to a couch on the basketball court at Shriver Park on 3rd Street.
Less than two hours after firefighters put out the fire, a nearby playground went up in flames.
The playground was destroyed, melted to the ground in the heat.
Damages are estimated at $80,000.
Fire Chief Tom Burgasser says someone dragged another couch or piece of furniture under the playground slide before lighting it ablaze.
Several homes in the area are going through foreclosure and furniture has been discarded on the street before, which may be where the couches came from.
Burgasser says whoever is responsible will be charged with aggravated arson. He says the fire was dangerous enough that it could have seriously injured someone, including firefighters.
Fire investigators think the arsons may be the work of teenagers. Investigators are following up leads.
A reward up to $5,000 is being offered for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.
"You could say it's just a playground fire, but a playground fire could become a house fire. A house fire could become a commercial building fire. If you don't change behaviors as soon as you can, you're going to be victimized again," said Chief Burgasser.
WKYC-TV