Fire ravaged Silver Sands buildings might be rebuilt by Memorial Day

Dec. 31--MILFORD -- A deck at Silver Sands State Park and three buildings atop it that were destroyed by fire nine months ago are being rebuilt and state officials are hoping -- but not promising -- the structures will be ready by Memorial Day, said Tom Tyler, director of Connecticut State Parks.

"The public is going to love it," Tyler said, referring to the amenities and breathtaking views from the deck.

Tyler said he is one of few to ever see the view, including of Charles Island, because before the nearly-completed structures were ever opened, they were destroyed by fire.

Most of the outside work had been completed and the interior work was nearly finished at the time of the fire. Rebuilding has been underway, but only recently became easily visible rising from the deck, Tyler said.

The structures are part of $9.1 million in renovations to the park. The deck will hold three buildings: one for bathrooms and changing rooms, a concession and a building for lifeguards and other staff to store items.

Tyler said state fire officials concluded the cause of the fire could not be determined because of the intensity of the fire.

"The state continues to work with the general contractor's insurers to pay for the rebuild of the project. Final discussions are still taking place between the state and insurance carriers, so I don't have an exact figure at this point," Tyler said, noting he will share that information when all is finalized.

He said the hope is the project will be done by the start of the summer season, although that depends on weather.

Tyler said the contractors can work when it's not "incredibly cold or actively snowing."

Tyler said the state is " thrilled" about getting the buildings open to the public.

Three Stratford teenagers have been charged with setting fires in four communities, including a fire in storage trailers at Silver Sands March 24, less than a week after the new structures were destroyed by fire. The teens were not implicated in the fire to the deck and three new buildings.

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