GLENHAYES, W.Va. — Investigators suspect arson caused the fire that destroyed the Tolsia High School football team’s field house early Tuesday.

Some block walls of the field house remained Tuesday, but the building’s contents were destroyed, including uniforms, pads and other equipment. 

Wayne County 911 reports dispatchers received word of the fire about 3:15 a.m. No injuries were reported. Because the building is located next to the school’s football field and away from the main school building, classes continued on Tuesday.

Reed Cook, deputy state fire marshal, said firefighters found an open door to the building’s weight room when they arrived. They also reported two doors had been pried open at the concession stand.

“It looks very odd and is most likely an incendiary fire,” he said.

Cook was unsure as to the accelerant used to set the fire. A reward up to $2,500 was offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

“I don’t care how old you are, if the information is good and we can arrest and convict someone, I’ll put you in for the reward,” Cook said.

Wayne County Sheriff’s Deputy Chester Maynard said the fire appears to be a personal act.

“I don’t think it’s a person from any other school. There are some red flags here,” he said. “The information that I have observed so far indicates that it is a personal thing.”

Maynard said the building contained thousands of dollars worth of equipment, but didn’t give an exact dollar amount. The building housed locker rooms, an equipment room, a weight room and coaches’ offices.

Lori Wolfe/The Herald-Dispatch

A Tuesday, October 13, 2009, fire destroyed the Tolsia High School football facilities building.

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