2 New Fires At Silver Sands State Park Considered 'Suspicious'

MILFORD, CT — On Tuesday night, a massive fire destroyed a major part of an ongoing $9 million state funded project at Silver Sands State Park. And now comes word that the Milford Fire Department responded back to the park early Sunday for two more fires

Two, 40-foot construction containers were both on fire around 7 a.m. Sunday, fire officials told WTNH News 8. The fires have been extinguished. The containers hold equipment for the park and were in close proximity to the fires from Tuesday night that destroyed three new buildings, News 8 reports.

Assistant Milford Mayor Justin Rosen says the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is investigating Sunday's fires as suspicious in nature.

"Update from @ConnDEEP regarding today's incident at Silver Sands State Park. The @MilfordFireEMS quickly extinguished the fires and investigators observed evidence of vandalism and the fires are being treated as suspicious. The @CT_STATE_POLICE are on scene investigating," Rosen said via social media. "Investigators have determined the Sunday morning fire in storage containers at Silver Sands State Park was intentionally set. Anyone with information is asked to call the Connecticut Arson Hotline at 1-800-84-ARSON. There is a $2,500 reward.”

Silver Sands State Park reopened on Friday, which was three days after a major fire destroyed three buildings that were part of an ongoing $9.1 million state-funded construction project.

The area where the fire occurred remains closed off to the public via a temporary fence, but the rest of the park is accessible, NBC Connecticut reports. A new concession stand/dining area, public restrooms and office were destroyed in the blaze.

The state project also added 100 new parking spaces and a maintenance facility. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. No decision has yet been made concerning whether the structures will be rebuilt.

When the project was proposed, many Milford residents opposed the plans but the state decided to proceed anyway.

Milford Mirror Editor Jill Dion reported on Thursday that initially it did not appear that the main fire was intentionally set. Painting occurred inside a building on the day of the fire, the CT Post reports.

And as to whether the destroyed buildings will be rebuilt, it will depend on the cause of the fire and whether the contractor's insurance is large enough to fund a rebuilt, the CT Post reports.

See related: $9M Silver Sands Park Project Largely Destroyed In Massive Fire