WEST ORANGE, Texas — The cause of a fire that broke outside of the newly-constructed West Orange-Stark press box and event center has been revealed.
West Orange-Cove Consolidated Independent School District officials quickly began investigating the cause of the fire that happened the afternoon of June 29, 2023.
The press box and event center sustained significant damage due to the fire, according to a news release from WOCCISD.
Officials say the cause of the fire was due to the sun reflecting off the angled glass of the press box onto the vinyl VIP seats with seating covers.
The corrosive fumes from the fire affected all the soft spaces within the structures and will now require extensive renovation to ensure the safety and functionality of the facilities, according to the release.
The event center will still be accessible for two events scheduled in early August, but will be inaccessible for at least four months after.
Officials say it is highly unlikely that they will be able to utilize these facilities for the upcoming 2023 football, volleyball and basketball seasons.
The decision not to rush the restoration process stems from the district's commitment to ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for all future events.
The district's primary concern is to prevent any recurrence of the burnt smell that may surface in the future as a result of this incident.
"We sincerely thank you for your understanding, patience, and ongoing support as we navigate this unexpected setback. West Orange-Cove CISD remains committed to providing our community with the best education and experiences. Thank you for your continued support and GO MUSTANGS," officials said in the release.
RELATED: Investigation underway after fire breaks out at West Orange-Stark press box construction site
No injuries were reported as a result of the fire.
From a West Orange-Cove Consolidated Independent School District news release:
The newly constructed West Orange-Cove CISD press box and event center encountered significant damage due to an incident involving a fire outside the press box. In the interest of complete transparency and after a thorough investigation, the cause of the fire was due to the sun reflecting off the angled glass of the press box onto the vinyl VIP seats with seating covers. The corrosive fumes from the fire have affected all the soft spaces within the structures and will now require extensive renovation to ensure the safety and functionality of these facilities.
The event center will still be accessible for two events scheduled in early August. However, we regret to inform you that it will be inaccessible for at least four months after. Unfortunately, it is highly unlikely that we will be able to utilize these facilities for the upcoming 2023 football, volleyball, and basketball seasons.
The decision not to rush the restoration process stems from our commitment to ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for all future events. Our primary concern is to prevent any recurrence of the burnt smell that may surface in the future.
We will provide regular updates to inform you about the progress made and any changes to the anticipated timeline.
We sincerely thank you for your understanding, patience, and ongoing support as we navigate this unexpected setback. West Orange-Cove CISD remains committed to providing our community with the best education and experiences. Thank you for your continued support, and GO MUSTANGS!
GET NEWS & WEATHER ALERTS | Download the 12News App to your mobile device
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.