Two athletic sheds full of sports and physical education equipment near Exeter Township Senior High School’s Don Thomas Stadium were destroyed by fire Saturday night.
Township police are now investigating the fires as well as vandalism done to banners within the stadium.
‘Basically, late Saturday night, two storage sheds which were filled with athletic equipment were set afire,’ said Don W. Cramer, Exeter’s instructional support services supervisor. ‘The storage sheds are located next to the stadium. They were fully destroyed, along with equipment inside.’
Behind the sheds, which are believed to have been intentionally lit on fire, damage was done within the football stadium.
‘Inside the stadium, there are multiple advertising banners defaced to the point that they had to be replaced,’ Cramer said.
Cramer said the school district does not have a damage estimate yet.
The equipment in the sheds was used by many different sports teams, Cramer said. He didn’t elaborate on which teams but he said physical education equipment in the sheds was used for both the senior and junior high schools.
Football, boys’ and girls’ soccer, track and field, field hockey, and boys’ and girls’ lacrosse all use Don Thomas Stadium for their games or meets.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Cramer said, there weren’t ‘any solid leads.’
‘We’re working with the Exeter Township Police,’ he said. ‘We’re encouraging anyone with any information to contact Crime Alert Berks,’ Cramer said.
Crime Alert Berks can be contacted at 877-373-9913 or through email at BerksAlert@aol.com. Tipsters’ identities can remain confidential in both cases.
As far as the high schools’ athletic teams, Cramer said there shouldn’t be any hiccups in their schedule. The football team is scheduled to host Unionville Friday at Don Thomas Stadium.
‘To the best of my knowledge, the teams will be able to continue playing,’ he said.
