CUMBERLAND — Investigation of the Sept. 26 fire that destroyed the John Humbird Elementary School playground is continuing, although “no legitimate suspect” has been developed in the case, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office.

The fire marshal’s office along with the C3I Unit and Cumberland Fire Marshal Boyce Rogers are conducting interviews of residents of the playground neighborhood concerning the early-morning fire that destroyed the playground and its equipment. Officials of the Allegany County Board of Education estimated the loss at $150,000.

“We have not yet identified a legitimate suspect at this time,” said Chief Deputy Fire Marshal Jason Mowbray of the state’s Western Region office located at the Maryland State Police barrack on National Highway in LaVale.

A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered through the arson hotline at (800) 492-7529 in addition to a reward up to $1,500 by the Allegany & Mineral Counties Crime Solvers at (301) 722-4300. Callers may remain anonymous and do not have to appear in court.

The fire was discovered at about 6:15 a.m., and was extinguished by city firefighters. Playground equipment destroyed or damaged beyond use by the fire included two climbing walls, seven slides and a squirrel cage. Investigators determined that the fire had been deliberately set.

The Western Region office is also continuing investigations of arsons of an unoccupied residence on Piney Mountain Road in Eckhart on May 25 and the Aug. 7 fire in a Mechanic Street residence that displaced two people.

The May 26 fire at Gianni’s Pizza Shop located in the former Prichard’s Department Store building at 1 W. Main St. in Frostburg is also under investigation. Losses in that fire were estimated at several hundred thousand dollars.

Contact Jeffrey Alderton at jlalderton@times-news.com.