A major fire caused the cancellation of the Escogido vs. Gigantes game at the Quisqueya Ball Park an hour before the game would start at 7:30pm on Wednesday, 27 December 2017. The sold-out-game between the Aguilas and the Licey for 28 December is also now cancelled. The Dominican Baseball League now needs to relocate the Escogido and Licey Santo Domingo city games.
As reported, the fire that broke out in the press area of the stadium practically extinguished itself as local fire trucks did not have capacity to reach the top floor where the fire started. The press suite is located in the area known as the 7th floor that is about 12 floors high.
The fire started at around 6:30pm when the press was gathered for pre-game reports on radio and TV. 15 fire units were dispatched to put out the fire and prevent it from expanding to the rest of the stadium.
Sportswriter Renaldo Bodden said that the fire was first noticed when smoke started coming out of an air conditioner located in the events room of the press suite that hangs over the central seating of the stadium. The press rapidly evacuated the area and by the time they reached the playing field an enormous blaze had engulfed the press suite. The fire took about three hours to be extinguished.
Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo said that the stadium would be assessed first thing on Thursday morning. Also visiting the stadium after the fire broke out were Sports Minister Danilo Diaz, the 911 director Dalvert Polanco and National District Mayor David Collado.
Diario Libre reporters observed the fire evidenced the deficiencies of the local firefighters when dealing with fires occurring higher than three floors. The city only has one fire fighter truck with capacity to reach a high rise. This was donated by the city of Miami.
Read more in Spanish:
Diario Libre
http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2017/12/27/jefe-bomberos-no-hay-carro-escala-que-llegue-donde-esta-el-fuego-en-estadio-quisqueya/
Lidom Standings
DR1 Forums
28 December 2017
