Concord's Mt. Diablo High School faced devastation this past weekend when its newly installed football field was significantly damaged due to a fire. Reports confirm the blaze erupted last Saturday night, resulting in major consequences for the school's sporting events. According to KRON4, Principal Dr. Markell McCain received an early Sunday call informing him of the incident, prompting local authorities' investigation into possible arson.
The unfortunate event comes at an inopportune time as the Red Devils were set to open their season at home this Friday, a plan that's been upended by the unexpected destruction. With the multi-million-dollar field's fire-retardant turf unable to prevent the damage, the school has to find alternative venues for their games hastily. "Our first game would have been a home game Friday. We’re going to have to have that game moved to another location,” McCain told KRON4.
The team has been temporarily displaced and could potentially look to nearby Diablo Valley College as a provisional sanctuary for their home games. This shift is stated considering the proximity of DVC to the high school, a mere 2.5 miles away. Earlier coverage by Mercury News alludes to the college's history of hosting high school games, which could soften the abrupt transition for Mt. Diablo’s team.
The school administration, alongside Concord Police and Contra Costa Fire Department, will continue diligently examining the fire's origins. "We’re just here to educate students, let our athletes play, and you know, lend our field out to the community when they need it so it’s for everybody,” McCain expressed in an interview with KRON4.
