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Authorities were called to Bliss Park & Pool in Longmeadow on Sunday morning, June 11, after two children reported burn-like injuries after playing at the playground, Longmeadow police said.
An investigation found that someone had stolen muriatic acid from the pool's pump room at the park and poured it on three slides. The toxic material had been properly stored, authorities said, but the thieves went to great lengths to get it. They scaled two fences and climbed through a ventilation shaft to break into the building's basement.
Muriatic acid is a diluted form of hydrochloric acid used in pool maintenance and cleaning, but it can burn the skin if touched without proper safety equipment and damage the lungs if breathed in.
Investigators believe whoever stole the acid likely was burned by it when they dumped it on the playground, police said.
The mother of the injured children posted a photo on Facebook of the chemical burns her 2-year-old received after playing at the park. She said her 1-year-old was also hurt.
She begged the public to speak with investigators if they had any information on the case.
The reason I am posting this is because I am urging folks living nearby to check your home security cameras just in case anything can be seen that might give some clue as to who did this. There was a sizable puddle of this chemical collected in the bottom of the slide and it was very concentrated (it was burning our eyes and noses when we got close). This could have turned out so much worse if any had gotten into a child’s eyes or been ingested.
Longmeadow authorities called State Police Hazmat teams to clean up the acid and help investigate the incident.
The playground remained cordoned off by police tape on Monday as detectives collected fingerprints and other evidence from the scene.
Longmeadow police ask anyone in the area to check their home surveillance cameras for any suspicious activity Saturday night and early Sunday morning. Investigators also want to speak to you if you know anyone with recent burns on their hands or face.
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