Bunny Park fire possibly started by schoolboys
Bunny Park volunteers were outraged when a fire started on the corner of Miles Sharp and Malcolm streets and spread into the park today (June 29).
Nobody was hurt and we are awaiting comment from the metro on the condition of the animals, though the volunteer groups said it is likely some became casualties of the fire.
In video footage of the Bunny Park, what appears to be two schoolboys are seen starting a fire in dry grass outside the park at around 10.29am.
The footage shows the fire spreading to within the park shortly thereafter.
The fire inside the park was contained by the Bunny Park staff, while firefighters and volunteers from the Bunny Park interest groups quelled it outside the fence.
Video footage from a camera within a property opposite the park shows two young men, apparently dressed in school uniforms, starting a fire in the dry grass outside the park.
The blaze spread to its full extent in about 25 minutes, based on the time stamp of the video and the time the volunteers arrived on the scene, which was around 10.53am.
The clothing worn by the alleged arsonists was identified as possibly being from a Benoni school.
Bunny Park volunteers on the scene were distraught, fearing for the safety of the animals in the park.
“The bunnies and peacocks were running everywhere, fleeing from the fire,” said Tania Forrest-Smith, founder of the Save the Bunny Park Animals group.
“We were feeding along the fence today, when we got a call from a woman who had just donated food to us, saying the park was on fire in the corner.
“I was desperate to get the message out, sending it out on all the groups involved at the park.”
The footage will be uploaded to the City Times website soon, as it was initially too large to upload and had to be trimmed and compressed first.
The footage will also be sent to the relevant school once trimming is complete.
The metro was asked for comment on June 29, but none was received by the time of publishing.
Also read:
Judgement reserved in Bunny Park case
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