Acid Poured on Three Playground Slides in Massachusetts Burns, Blisters Children

A common pool cleaning chemical was poured onto playground slides at a park in Massachusetts, causing burns and blisters on two children, according to authorities.

Around 9:30 a.m. on June 11, Longmeadow Fire and Police responded to a report at Bliss Park Playground about a “suspicious substance” on the park equipment, according to the Longmeadow Fire Department.

At the same time, the fire department and EMS received a separate report of two children suffering from burnlike injuries after returning home from that same park.

According to the children’s mother, Ashley Thielen, she took her kids to the playground earlier in the day, and they ran up to her crying about reportedly sliding through a chemical puddle, WSHM-TV reported.

"I just assumed it was rainwater," Thielen told the station. "I didn’t really think much of it, and then, my baby, who is 1, just started crying. That was when I knew this liquid that they were around wasn’t water."

One of the children’s legs was swollen and blistered, the mother said, adding that the injuries were superficial and not life-threatening.

The fire department determined the liquid was muriatic acid, which was poured onto three slides at the park.

Investigators believe an unidentified suspect or suspects climbed over two fences and tore off a cover ventilation shaft before breaking into the pool building and stealing the chemicals, officials said.

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Authorities said the chemicals were “stored properly in a secured area” and a “great deal of effort was employed to enter this space.”

The possible suspect or suspects allegedly sustained acid burns to their hands or arms, and their clothing might have been impacted from touching the chemicals, officials said.

The fire department said the playground has been cleaned, but will remain closed for the time being.