EUGENE, Ore. — Eugene investigators say four boys were playing with fire in the press box of the town’s historic Civic Stadium, but the flames got out of control and burned down the ballpark.
Investigators say that as flames spread Monday night, the panicked boys jumped a chain-link fence, hopped on their bicycles and fled.
But parents of a fifth boy who left before the fire tipped off police on Wednesday.
The four are to be charged with arson. One is 10, the others 12.
Investigators said Thursday they don’t believe the boys intended to destroy the park, but haven’t given coherent reasons for using a lighter to ignite material such as wood, drywall and leaves.
The stadium was a jobs project in the Great Depression but hasn’t been used since 2009.
