2 teens charged in fire at Elizabeth Township pool
For 70 years, residents of Elizabeth Township have had fun cooling off in their beloved Buena Vista swimming pool.
As the hot July sun beat down Thursday morning, however, they could only gawk from the fence surrounding the pool while fire crews surveyed the charred remains of the pool’s locker and lifeguard building, destroyed by a blaze hours earlier that officials said was intentional.
Allegheny County police said two 13-year-old boys are in custody and are being charged with arson and the manufacture and possession of incendiary devices. Molotov cocktails were found at the scene by the Allegheny County fire marshal.
Nine fire companies responded to the fire, first reported at 3:37 a.m., according to county fire officials. Crews were able to stop the fire from spreading to a nearby chlorine storage shed and the pump house, but they were unable to save the building that housed locker rooms, restrooms and a lifeguard station.
There were no reports of injuries, but the structure is a complete loss, said Mike Hansen, captain of the Buena Vista Volunteer Fire Department. “I had to back everyone off and let it burn,” he said.
There were no chemicals stored in the locker building, Capt. Hansen said, but the fire grew so large because the structure was wood-framed. A pair of colorful plastic slides, recently installed nearby at a cost of about $40,000, were spared from the intense heat.
The 110,000-gallon pool has been part of the tight-knit community since 1949 and is owned and operated by the fire department. Lifeguards, often local teens, are paid to watch swimmers.
“For years, we lost money on this pool,” Capt. Hansen said. “It doesn’t contribute to the budget, but it is [now] self-sustaining.”
The destroyed building was fully insured, he said, and the fire department isn’t seeking
donations to help rebuild, though charity is always welcome.
The pool has been especially important to the community this summer, as other activities for children have been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A blackened lawnmower and a wheelbarrow peeked out from one end of the building used for storage, while skeletons of lawn chairs were visible where the roof and wall had completely caved in. The fire had peeled aluminum siding off the building.
One boy rode up on his bike, eyes wide, and cursed when he saw the damage before pedaling away. A woman slowed down in her car to purse her lips and shake her head as she drove past. Some snapped photos with their phones.
“We were thrilled to give the kids something this summer, and now to have it taken away, it’s devastating to say the least,” said pool manager Heather Caley.
“It’s sad. I pray they find out who did it,” added Carol Trumpie, a 19-year resident of Elizabeth, from her SUV. She had pulled over to see the damage for herself. “How could people destroy something that is so good for the people?”
Ms. Trumpie said she was awoken by her son in the middle of the night when he saw the fire. “I didn’t hear sirens,” she said.
Also at the scene was state Sen. Jim Brewster, DAllegheny/Westmoreland, who greeted those gathered and vowed to help them rebuild.
“I’m going to do anything I can to help,” said Mr. Brewster, the former
McKeesport mayor. “As a former mayor, I know how important it is to help these communities.”
Mr. Brewster obtained a $100,000 grant from the state that allowed the fire department to keep the pool open and add upgrades.
Ms. Caley checked the damage with Karlye Lucas, who works as a lifeguard at the pool. Both said they were heartbroken to hear that the popular spot had to be shuttered.
“This is devastating for the whole community,” said Ms. Caley, who found out about the fire from one of the lifeguards. “It was an awful phone call to receive. ... I learned to swim in this pool.”
Ms. Caley said nearly 200 people — young and old alike — use the pool every day.
The pool’s future was a source of debate in 2014 as donations and attendance declined, but it opened for its 70th season this year, even amid the pandemic.
“The fire department does a tremendous job; that’s why I helped them open earlier,” Mr. Brewster said.
The pool will remain closed while the cleanup continues and damage is assessed, but Capt. Hansen said the fire won’t be the end of swimming at the pool this summer.
He expects it to be back in operation as early as Monday once a safety wall can be installed between the remains of the changing house and the pool.
“We’re coming back,” he said.
A temporary setup for changing and showering will be installed, likely in the form of a trailer, though Capt. Hansen said he had no specific details yet.