Fire destroys playgrounds at Imani Christian Academy in Pittsburgh

School leadership at Imani Christian Academy in Pittsburgh’s East Hills neighborhood vowed to rebuild “bigger and bolder and better” after a fire broke out at the school’s two playgrounds Saturday night.

There was no damage to the school building and no other signs of possible vandalism were found, Imani Christian CEO and Head of School Paulo Nzambi said Sunday.

Firefighters from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire Engine 16 and Pittsburgh Police from Zone 5 responded to multiple calls for a fire on the 2100 block of East Hills Drive just after 10:20 p.m. Saturday, according to a statement from Pittsburgh Public Safety.

They arrived to find the two playgrounds behind the school in flames, the statement said.

One of the two playground sets behind the school was destroyed. The equipment was charred and much of the plastic melted, officials said. A second, larger playground set is intact, but there was damage to one slide and the rubber floor around it.

The Fire Investigations Unit is investigating.

Nzambi said Sunday that he and other school officials have not yet reviewed security camera footage.

Imani Christian is a small, faith-based school serving about 200 students in grades Pre-K through 12. Most of the students live in low-income communities, and nearly all of them are children of color, Nzambi said.

Many students live in Pittsburgh near the school or in surrounding municipalities, including Penn Hills and Wilkinsburg.

The incident also occurred on the eve of the Imani Christian graduation. The school celebrated 13 graduating seniors during a virtual ceremony Sunday evening.