Ridgefield police continue to investigate who dumped 24 gallons of gasoline on the field that Ridgefield High School uses, and set the field on fire. The home field at Governor Park was soggy when baseball teams started to arrive Saturday, and someone decided to try to dry the field quicker. Ridgefield officials called it a poor decision and police are looking into the matter.
The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection was called to the scene and crews have excavated the impacted area. The contaminated dirt from the clay in field was placed in a secure container and clean soil will be put onto the field. The gasoline didn't spread to the grass area.
There were reportedly dozens of witnesses, some take cell phone video of the incident. Several games this week will be moved to the opponent's fields because of the clean up.
A social studies teacher from Amity Middle School in Bethany posted a video of the incident to Twitter.
@GameTimeCT @amityathletics @SPBowley
— NortonAmityTeacher (@AmityNorton) April 6, 2019
Field Maintenance at Governors Field in Ridgefield. First responders currently on scene. Game being moved? Environmental Hazard? pic.twitter.com/9eKd2JcBJC
First Selectman Rudy Marconi told the Ridgefield Press that the estimated clean up cost is at least $50,000.
