Public's help sought after suspicious fires damage restroom, trash cans at Inis Grove Park in Ames

Phillip Sitter, Ames Tribune
·1 min read
A suspicious fire Thursday night damaged the restroom north of Walnut Shelter at Inis Grove Park in Ames. Other fires at the same time in the park also damaged trash cans. Authorities think the fire that damaged the restroom also started in a trash can. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Ames Police Department or Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa.

Officials are seeking any information on suspicious fires Thursday night at Inis Grove Park in Ames that caused thousands of dollars in damage.

The Ames Fire Department responded at 10:45 p.m. to a structure fire at the park, according to a city news release. Firefighters found smoke coming out of three sides of the restroom north of Walnut Shelter, after a fire that was believed to have started in a nearby trash can.

The restroom, located off Duff Avenue, is closed until further notice.

That was one of several fires reported.

Joshua Thompson, the city's parks superintendent, said Friday that an insurance adjustor had not yet taken a look at the damage, but Thompson guessed that it would cost between $20,000 and $25,000 to repair.

Fire crews also extinguished three trash can fires near Shagbark Shelter and a fourth near the Miracle Playground.

The Ames fire and police departments are investigating and consider the fires suspicious.

Anyone with information regarding the fires is asked to contact Ames police at 515-239-5133 or the department's anonymous tip line at 515-239-5533. The Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa may also be contacted at 515-223-1400, or online anonymous tips can be submitted at crimestoppersofcentraliowa.com.

A suspicious fire the night of Thursday, July 21, 2022 damaged the restroom north of Walnut Shelter at Inis Grove Park in Ames. Other fires at the same time in the park also damaged trash cans. Authorities think the fire that damaged the restroom also started in a trash can. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Ames Police Department or Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa.

Ames parks close at 10:30 p.m. daily and anyone noticing people using parks after hours is asked to share that and any identifying information to the Ames police non-emergency line at 515-239-5133.

A probe into a May 2018 fire that caused approximately $50,000 in damage to the restroom building at Brookside Park closed without a cause having been determined. That fire also started in or near a trash can.

Phillip Sitter covers education for the Ames Tribune, including Iowa State University and PreK-12 schools in Ames and elsewhere in Story County. Phillip can be reached via email at psitter@gannett.com. He is on Twitter @pslifeisabeauty.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Suspicious fires damage restroom, trash cans at Ames' Inis Grove Park