MILFORD - State and local officials are once again investigating a fire at a construction project at Silver Sands State Park.
The park just reopened Friday after a Tuesday night fire destroyed a $10 million renovation project that was scheduled to open Memorial Day weekend.
The project included new bath- and changing-rooms and a concession stand. Local residents had fought the project for years.
On Sunday morning, at about 8 a.m., firefighters were called to an access road at the park to extinguish fires in two trailers used for construction storage.
Milford Police said that one fire was in flames and the other smoking when they arrived. They fires were quickly extinguished.
Investigators said the fire on Sunday was intentionally set and is now being treated as an arson case.
Many residents are wondering why Silver Sands has been the target of two fires in one week.
“I can’t fathom how that could have happened,” Sharon Bolander said.
“I think it’s all very suspicious,” Cathleen Munisteri said.
A Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) spokesman says that the park had been secured from vehicle traffic overnight, so anyone trespassing would have had to walk in.
DEEP's Environmental & Conservation Police (EnCon), assisted by the Connecticut State Police Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit and local officials are investigating. Accelerant-sniffing K-9's are also on scene according to local police.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Connecticut Arson Hotline at 1-800-84-ARSON. There is a $2,500 reward.