Columbia Falls Babe Ruth bleachers destroyed in fire

The bleachers at the Sapa-Johnsrud Babe Ruth Fields in Columbia Falls were destroyed by fire Monday evening about 11 p.m. Columbia Falls Fire Chief Rick Hagen said the cause appeared to be fireworks that youths had set off in a garbage can under the bleachers.

A Columbia Falls police officer discovered the fire and called for a fire truck with a fire extinguisher as the officer didn’t have anything to put it out. The officer was unable to get the fire out on his own and within two minutes the bleachers were on fire, Hagen said.

“Then it was off to the races,” Hagen said. “It was pretty sad.”

The stands didn’t burn to the ground, but are a total loss.

The dugouts and other facilities nearby were unscathed.

Glacier Babe Ruth President Ray Queen said there is already talk about rebuilding the stands and people are coming together with ideas.

He said they’d like to not only rebuild, but even build a facility that could host a Babe Ruth World Series.

“Sometimes these things open new doors,” he said.

Visiting teams loved the old wooden stands, which were built about 25 years ago, he said.

Folks who want to help can call Queen directly at 253-0857.

“We want to make this a new life for Glacier Babe Ruth,” he said.

Queen said the league didn’t have any more games at home this season, but teams will need to find another field to practice on.