Des Moines Police say two people who were seen near a suspicious fire at a football stadium have been questioned and cleared of any involvement in the incident. The fire Tuesday night destroyed a locker room and football uniforms at Des Moines East High’s Williams Stadium. No one was injured.
Investigators are calling the fire “suspicious” and have not ruled out arson as a cause. But, they say the two people who were seen leaving the stadium’s parking lot shortly before firefighters arrived have been eliminated as suspects.
Damage from the fire is estimated at over $100,000. East High school officials are scrambling to order new helmets, pads, uniforms and other equipment destroyed in the fire as football practice is scheduled to begin in less than a week.
Meanwhile, a second suspicious fire is being investigated at another Des Moines school. That fire Wednesday night was in a dumpster at Hiatt Middle School.