Crews Battle Arson Fires at Plainfield Central, Village Green

Several youths were reportedly apprehended after allegedly starting fires at Plainfield Central and Village Green Park Thursday night.

Plainfield Deputy Fire Chief John Stratton said firefighters responded to a report of two garbage cans on fire at around 8:42 p.m. at the Village Green in downtown Plainfield.

Six minutes later, another fire was reported in a dumpster outside Plainfield Central High School, 24120 Fort Beggs Drive, he said.

Stratton said police had four youths in custody shortly after the fires, thanks in part to descriptions from witnesses who allegedly saw the culprits fleeing from the scene of the fire at Village Green and heading for the high school.

"They gave us a pretty good description of the people that did it," Stratton said.

Plainfield Park District Director of Communications Doug Booth said that fortunately, nothing was damaged at Village Green aside from the decorate garbage cans, which he said cost an estimated $500 to $600 apiece.

Stratton said the damage could have been much worse, given the cans' proximity to the wooden pavilion at the Village Green.

"If somebody wouldn't have noticed it, that pavilion would have gone up, no doubt about it," he said.

Plainfield police on Friday confirmed they did make several arrests in the case and expect to release additional information Friday afternoon.

"We had kids playing with some matches ,throwing matches into garbage cans," Sgt. Mike Fisher said. He said four juveniles, all boys, were taken into custody following the incidents.
Check back with Patch for updates.

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