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Michigan

Space heater likely caused Tigers minor league ballpark fire

AP
Firefighters finish putting out a fire at Fifth Third Ballpark in Comstock Park. The fire destroyed multiple suites and caused part of the roof to collapse at a minor league ballpark in western Michigan. The affected suites run from home plate down the first base line at 10,000-seat Fifth Third Ballpark, which is home to the West Michigan Whitecaps, a Class A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers
  • 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.

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