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A Ridgefield High School baseball game against Amity scheduled to be played at Governor Park was forced to be postponed over the weekend due to poor weather conditions that impacted the field.
According to the Ridgefield Police Department, on Saturday, April 6, “a poor decision was made to dry the field quicker" and 24 gallons of gasoline were poured on the playing surface and set on fire. The Ridgefield Fire Department and DEEP were contacted due to the fire and environmental hazards posed from the gasoline being used.
Law enforcement and fire crews were notified of the incident at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, and has since made international headlines.
A video of the incident has been posted on Twitter.
Following the incident, the plan is now to excavate the field, place the dirt in a safe container, add fresh and clean soil to the field, which is expected to reopen in approximately a week as they test the contaminated samples.
The incident is expected to cost upwards of $50,000 to make necessary reparations.
On Facebook, area residents expressed their anger over the vandalism incident, with many questioning the logic of lighting a field on fire with gasoline to dry it out.
"Well, initially I was dumbfounded by the stupidity of grown men thinking it was a good idea to set a baseball field on fire, supposedly to dry it out? Were they always that dumb or did they got to college to learn it?" Nancy Dunn Cosgrove posted. "Then, I made the mistake of reading the comments on the fire right here on FB and now I'm convinced that we are not only the safest city in CT, we're also the collectively dumbest! "
Matthew Damba added, "Instructed? How bout hold those responsible? Cause nobody was apparently smart enough NOT to allow it.. On a good note, thank you to your town, the fire departments around the world can teach their government officials what NOT to do and show them your town as proof.."
No one was injured and there was never anyone in danger, police said. The incident remains under investigation, and no one has come forward to accept responsibility.
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