A fire destroyed a structure at Sabina Park on Sunday night, Sept. 15, 2024.
Richard Foltz | News Journal photos
The structure was part of a sheltered picnic area near the park entrance along Rose and Eden Avenue, near the Sabina water tower. The shelter area housed several picnic tables in an open-air shelter, and had a concrete floor, with several wooden beams along the structure’s exterior reaching up to a shingled roof.
SABINA, Ohio — A fire engulfed and destroyed a structure at Sabina Park Sunday night, and officials are asking community members to come forward if they have any information about the incident.
According to a police report obtained by the News Journal, an unnamed witness interviewed by police claimed to see two kids at the scene. According to the witness, he came upon two 10- to 12-year-olds who had started a fire under the structure. The witness then yelled at the kids, telling them to put the fire out or else he would call the police.
The witness stated that one juvenile ran south toward the exit of the park and he believed the other juvenile was trying to put the fire out before the witness left the area.
A Sabina police officer said he had been out on patrol when he noticed the fire and came upon an octagon-shaped picnic table on fire. The officer then called the Sabina-Richland-Wilson-Wayne Joint Fire District.
Of the two suspects, the report stated that one juvenile was wearing a white t-shirt and basketball shorts. It was reported that the witness could not state what the other suspect was wearing outside of basketball shorts.
The structure was part of a sheltered picnic area near the park entrance along Rose and Eden Avenue, near the Sabina water tower. The shelter area housed several picnic tables in an open-air shelter, and had a concrete floor, with several wooden beams along the structure’s exterior reaching up to a shingled roof.
According to the police report, the estimated value of the damaged structure, picnic tables, and other park equipment within the structure was valued at $40,000. The report estimated the time of the incident to be approximately 11:10 p.m. on the night of Sunday, Sept. 15.
“At this time we have no suspects,” said Sabina Chief of Police Joe Noland. “We ask that if anybody has any information that they please bring it to our attention.”
As of Monday afternoon, there were no new leads or suspects in the case. Noland and Mayor Abe Arnold spoke with the News Journal about the incident and asked that the community come forward with any information they may have regarding the incident.
The Village of Sabina will have a neighborhood watch meeting tomorrow Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m., for any residents interested in helping the community.
