Fire destroys beloved Twin Lakes playground

Update | 10:03 a.m. Tuesday

Two 13-year-old boys were charged in a fire at Twin Lakes, which is being investigated as arson.

The boys were located, interviewed and lodged at the Johnson Youth Center, according to a Juneau Police Department news release.

Update | 10:07 p.m.

The Juneau Police Department says Glacier Highway has reopened by Twin Lakes.

Capital City Fire/Rescue plans to put out additional information in the morning.

Update | 8:08 p.m.

A Facebook group called “Rebuild Castle Park – Juneau, AK” popped up about an hour ago and already has more than 1,200 members.

People there are sharing fond memories of the park, old photos and ideas to rebuild.

Erica Barker posted that her “almost 7 year old son is crying asking why someone would do this to his park. he says someone stole is ‘rememories’ and he wants to be involved in the rebuilding.”

Update | 7:40 p.m.

At the scene earlier, Assistant Fire Chief Tod Chambers said the cause was unknown and that the playground appeared to be a total loss.

He said it was especially bad because so much of the playground was made of plastic.

Chambers said the department is seeking information from the public to help establish what happened. Contact the Juneau Police Department at 586-0600 to report information.

As of about 7:20 p.m., the nursing supervisor on shift at Bartlett Regional Hospital says the hospital had not received any patients related to the fire.

Update | 7:08 p.m.

A fire at Twin Lakes playground is out Monday, April 24, 2017, and firefighters look over the area for hot spots. (Photo courtesy Ed Quinto/Capital City Fire/Rescue)
A fire at Twin Lakes playground is out Monday, April 24, 2017, and firefighters look over the area for hot spots. (Photo courtesy Ed Quinto/Capital City Fire/Rescue)

KTOO’s Kelli Burkinshaw is at the scene, where she says  the fire has mostly died down. She says the fire appeared mostly contained to the playground area, and that the castle structure is completely gone.

However, she says there is still “a lot of really smelly smoke” with a chemical smell affecting her throat and burning her eyes. Burkinshaw lives downwind of the fire and said she had to leave her home for relief.

Firefighters spray down a fire on Monday, April 24, 2017, at the playground near Twin Lakes. (Photo by Kelli Burkinshaw/KTOO)
Firefighters spray down a fire on Monday, April 24, 2017, at the playground near Twin Lakes. (Photo by Kelli Burkinshaw/KTOO)

Update | 6:51 p.m.

Through city social media, Fire Chief Rich Etheridge reports the fire is 95 percent under control.

Juneau Police dispatch reports Glacier Highway is closed from Hospital Drive to Wire Street, and requests motorists on Egan Drive keep traffic flowing.

The million dollar Project Playground at Twin Lakes was completed in 2007, built mostly from community fundraising and volunteer labor, according to the park’s website.

Original post | 6:36 p.m.

A fire is ablaze at the Twin Lakes playground, pouring out dense black smoke.

On social media, the City and Borough of Juneau has Capital City Fire/Rescue Chief Rich Etheridge saying no citizen injuries have been reported. Firefighters are working the scene.

This is a developing story, check back for more. 

Jeremy Hsieh

Local News Reporter, KTOO

I dig into questions about the forces and institutions that shape Juneau, big and small, delightful and outrageous. What stirs you up about how Juneau is built and how the city works?

Sign up for The Signal

Top Alaska stories delivered to your inbox every week

Site notifications
Update notification options
Subscribe to notifications