Space heater likely caused Tigers minor league ballpark fire
- The fire destroyed multiple suites and caused part of the roof to collapse
- The ballpark is home to the West Michigan Whitecaps
PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — Authorities say a space heater used by a work crew likely caused a fire that destroyed multiple suites and a partial roof collapse at a western Michigan minor league ballpark.
Plainfield Township Fire Chief David Peterson says the heater started a small fire Friday morning at the Fifth Third Ballpark, but workers thought they had extinguished it. They returned to find an entire area in flames.
Peterson says a sprinkler system was deactivated earlier Friday because of a false alarm. The response also was slowed by a lack of fire hydrants.
There were no injuries.
The ballpark near Grand Rapids is home to the West Michigan Whitecaps, an affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. Whitecaps co-owner Denny Baxter says officials plan to rebuild in time for opening day in April.