A fire at UL Baseball’s M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field at Russo Park sent smoke into the sky over Lafayette Friday afternoon, with the blaze ultimately causing significant damage to the stadium’s old scoreboard.
UPDATE:
Fire Ruled Accidental, No Injuries Reported
The Lafayette Fire Department says the fire at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field at Russo Park has been ruled accidental. Firefighters were called at 3:34 p.m. and arrived to find fence banners and padding, grass, pine trees and the ballpark’s old scoreboard on fire. Crews extinguished the blaze within about 15 minutes.
Investigators determined a company had been performing iron work on the metal fence using a cutting torch and welding equipment before employees left the area. Officials believe hot metal from that work likely ignited pine needles and dry grass, which smoldered before eventually flaring up. The fire spread quickly due in part to dry conditions, heavily damaging the old scoreboard, fence banners and padding.
Louisiana Athletics confirmed the fire began along the left-field fence after work crews had left for the day and thanked Lafayette firefighters for their quick response…