Officials say blaze at Montesano High School is suspicious
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MONTESANO, Wash. -- Officials say a fire that destroyed the grandstands at the Montesano High School football stadium late Sunday is suspicious.
The fire, reported just before 10 p.m., quickly engulfed the seating area and sent a large plume of smoke into the air.
Crews were able to keep the blaze from spreading to the nearby gym, but the grandstands are a total loss.
No one was injured, but investigators are looking at whether Sunday's blaze is connected to another suspicious fire at the grandstands several weeks ago. That fire was quickly extinguished.
Firefighters were still on scene Monday morning watching for hotspots while investigators officials began trying to find out exactly how the fire started.
District Superintendent Dan Winter said insurance should cover the damage to the grandstands, and the school's homecoming game will be played at Aberdeen High School on September 29.
Other games may be played at Aberdeen, Hoquiam and Elma, but the exact schedule has not been determined.
The fire, reported just before 10 p.m., quickly engulfed the seating area and sent a large plume of smoke into the air.
Crews were able to keep the blaze from spreading to the nearby gym, but the grandstands are a total loss.
No one was injured, but investigators are looking at whether Sunday's blaze is connected to another suspicious fire at the grandstands several weeks ago. That fire was quickly extinguished.
Firefighters were still on scene Monday morning watching for hotspots while investigators officials began trying to find out exactly how the fire started.
District Superintendent Dan Winter said insurance should cover the damage to the grandstands, and the school's homecoming game will be played at Aberdeen High School on September 29.
Other games may be played at Aberdeen, Hoquiam and Elma, but the exact schedule has not been determined.
I go to this school, and was devastated to find out about this...i suspect arsen, but everyone keeps sayin it was electrical :/ now there are no more grandstands :( i hope whoever did this is happy >:(
Brokendreamer101
Who was the person who drove by at 940 we are looking for any information. Thank you Lt. Jay Staten Montesano Police Department.
I grew up in a small town in Oregon. We had an arsonist in our midst. Burned down the grocery store, tavern, grade school and several houses. They finally caught him. A 14 year old kid nobody suspected.
If someone truly did this... and looking at the photo of the fire.... chances are likely someone did..... What a shameful cry for help....... despicable.
I wonder if they had any surveillance cameras on to capture any of this.  More and more schools have implemented these. This would be a goodtime to have them.
 @The WA Mama I'm from Montesano, and unfortunately we don't have any cameras. There are less than 4,000 people in our town, so not many places have security cameras because just don't need them...or so we thought.
Sounds like someone is taking high school football a little too seriously.
I wondered that myself or if was someone who doesn't get to play much.
Just from the picture must agree, something doesn't look right.......way too hot! If it's arson, hope the perp is caught. No sense endangering the lives of firefighters and others.
Question: Any posters here from Auburn & remember our grandstand fire? Tried to Google it, couldn't find it. Was it '78', '79..earlier?
 I think it was arson also, and no doubt connected to the Marys River fire last month. Montesano has an arsonist in their midst. One would wonder: " Who Is It"  I am sure someone knows who it is> Could it be they have a suspect from Marys River and perhaps this is a gambit to move the blame or arsonists else where?.
 i graduated MHS in 72 and painted those bleachers in 1970 1nd 71 from Ernine Enz while employed on a summer hiring program. I had been in every part of the stadium and find it rather hard fro anyone to start a fire therein.
 I suppose we all need to support crime stoppers on this and all pony up a reward to someone who will squeal out the person who did this. I'll put in a few bucks for Class of 72
 @Cliff Trudeau So how in the world of wonderland you live in can a electrical fire at the mill and this Arson fire be linked?
At least it didn't happen during a game like our fire at the MT SI HS stadium in the autumn of '72.Some kid set off a couple fire crackers or possibly a smoker dropped something that ignited the foam rubber mats stored under the stadium.That fire roared to life as panicked people silently rushed out of the bleachers with the flames at their backs.It was a dramatic event with the light poles burning and crashing down leaving us in total darkness except for the enormous bonfire created by the old stadium.The cheer leaders were crying and the crowd just stood there in stunned silence. I'll never forget it. JD
any possible link to the sawmill fire, i wonder?
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either way, this fire sure seems suspicious. whoever did this needs somewhere else to direct their time and energy, clearly. sick.
 @SwampThing Well they say mill fire electrical!
ah, thank you.
Preferably to stamping license plates for a few years.
I talked to one lady who went by there at approx 940pm and it was fine. We called 911 at 9:47pm when we drove by it and saw the top part on fire and by the time the fire dept showed up just a minute or so later it was fully engulfed. Alot of us are wondering if it was the same person who started a small fire in the same grandstands about 2 weeks ago.Â
@brokendreamer101Â Can you tell me who the person was who drove by at 940 pm, we are looking for any informaiton. Lt. Jay Staten Montesano Police Department. thanks
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Also "Gern Blandstrom", what video are you talking about, saw the ones of the fire but is there something else. again thanks
That's terrible. Hope the money can be found to rebuild.
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And if it was arson, hope that the firebug is caught and dealt with appropriately.
 @TheTruncheon As far as I know, our superintendent has said that insurance should cover the costs of rebuilding, but Hands-on-Health has also already raised almost $600 to rebuild in only 4-5 hours.
It was arson. I drove by at 9, and it was fine. It couldnt of gone up that much in such a short time :( School will be a little harder tomorrow but we will get through it! We have been through so much this year we wont give up now! You can burn our grandstands but you can never burn our spirits!
 @Janaye Mattice Your right And for those who did better hope the cops catch them before the citizens do!
That stadium was built with virgin old growth timbers! It was done by arson. That place was a historical site!
They just had a big game there Friday night. Very awful
Probably someone was upset about that video on You Tube.
 @Gern Blanston What video?
Hope everyone is alright!