A Yuba City preschool playground was destroyed in a Fourth of July fire that investigators believe may have been sparked by illegal fireworks.<\/p>\n
Creative Kids Preschool owner Michelle Lightle showed CBS News Sacramento the damage that is now forcing her students, from infants to 5-year-olds, to stay indoors.<\/p>\n
“This area was shaded and it was specifically for our babies to be able to be outside,” Lightle said. “It’s just a disaster and unnecessary, completely unnecessary.”<\/p>\n
The playground is now charred and blackened. Plastic toys have melted, and the turf that had been laid on the ground is gone. <\/p>\n
The Yuba City Fire Department was able to extinguish the flames before they spread into the preschool building. A neighboring business also suffered significant smoke damage.<\/p>\n
Yuba City Fire Marshal Jaswant Singh said investigators are looking for evidence he can present to a judge to prove the fire was sparked by an illegal firework. <\/p>\n
In Yuba City, possessing illegal fireworks can result in a $1,000 fine and a misdemeanor criminal charge.<\/p>\n
“If you look at our call screen, we were just so busy in suppression,” Singh said. “Illegal fireworks, a lot, going on.”<\/p>\n
For the preschool, the damage has already been done.<\/p>\n
“It is just so dangerous. You just don’t know where they’re going to land,” Lightle said.<\/p>\n
Now, she’s hoping the destruction serves as a warning to anyone still choosing to use illegal fireworks.<\/p>\n
“Stop this nonsense,” Lightle said. “Our community is worth more.”<\/p>\n
Singh said the Yuba City Fire Department responded to 103 calls between July 3 and July 4 \u2014 roughly three times its normal call volume for that time period.<\/p>\n
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