Investigation results released this September concerning a fire at a Randolph Park pool facility have shown that a discarded cigarette caused the blaze. The fire took place on May 26 at the Evelyn Alexander Waterpark facilities in Pulaski County, Virginia.
After burning for nearly two hours, no part of the pool house building was able to be salvaged.
Pulaski County Sheriff’s deputies identified Amanda Hitt as the person responsible after reviewing a video of the incident. In it, Hitt was seen smoking a cigarette near the area where the fire started, before throwing away her cigarette into the mulch area where the fire then spread to a tree near the building’s roof.
“The fire started basically at the center of the building and spread in both directions, which is what made it so difficult for our firefighters to contain the fire,” said Pulaski County Administrator Jonathan Sweet.
On September 18, Hitt was fined $250, and convicted of a misdemeanor.
According to an insurance adjuster, it will cost $1.1 million to rebuild the facility, but that figure doesn’t incorporate other factors that will increase that valuation. Those other factors include the rebuilding of the facility to modern code, Sweet said.
Sweet, citing preliminary construction and engineering figures, estimates the real cost is at least $2.2 million.
He said it’s difficult to say when the rebuild will occur.
The waterpark is one of the main attractions at Randolph Park, a recreational ground that is a community focal point, attracting between 30,000 and 45,000 people each summer. In addition to the waterpark, the grounds are home to other amenities such as multiple ball fields, basketball courts, a walking and running track, and a playground. The waterpark employs 35 lifeguards and another 10 front desk workers, who were forced to find different jobs at the park after the fire.
The park is also a destination for 140 campers per week through their summer camp program, and one of their key activities is daily swimming.
This summer, the camp improvised so that the kids could still enjoy water activities with lawn slides and sprinklers. The children were also bused to Lake Ridge Pool in Carrol County two days a week.
