HOUSTON – A fire that destroyed thousands of dollars worth of sporting equipment was intentionally set, investigators said.
Around $20,000 worth of the Cy-Fair Sports Association's baseball field maintenance equipment was destroyed in the fire at the league's utility garage in the 5500 block of Queenston Boulevard about 5 a.m. Friday.
The fire was put out by Cy-Fair volunteer firefighters, but not before it destroyed the building.
"It's a complete loss. This building housed all of our equipment," said Curtis Cooper, vice president of facilities for the nonprofit league.
According to the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office, the fire was intentionally set.
Aside from the monetary losses the league is now faced with, the fire poses a logistics issue now.
"We've got to get it rebuilt because the season starts here in about three weeks," said Cooper.
Harris County sheriff's deputies arrested a man who was near the complex and matched the description given from the passerby who originally reported the fire. He has yet to be formally charged in connection with the fire. He was taken into custody on a public intoxication charge.
According to Cooper, the fire won't derail season plans for the baseball league, but he said the fields will suffer.
The utility building was not insured, so all the money that it's going to take to replace everything lost will have to come out of pocket. Cooper said the league will try and raise the money from within but couldn't rule out league dues increasing to help cover the cost.
"It's very devastating to us that someone would do something like this," said Cooper.
Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.