Fire damages Riverdale football concession stand

Riverdale High School's football concession stand was damaged by a fire Monday evening.

The fire broke out around 5:30 p.m., just before the Warriors' freshman team was to play rival Oakland.

When the Murfreesboro Fire and Rescue Department first arrived, they found flames coming through the roof of the concession building located near the football field. According to acting Battalion Chief Tony Lehew, crews quickly put out the fire, and the structure suffered moderate damage.

The building was in use at the time the fire broke out, according to Lehew, and the blaze apparently began as a grease fire.

There were no injuries and the Fire Marshal's Office is conducting a routine investigation. 

Riverdale football coach Will Kriesky was in his office when it happened.

"I heard there was a fire and took off running," he said. "By the time I got there it was already engulfed. All I could do was watch it burn until the fire trucks came.

"(Student resource officers James) Coots and (Shawn) Jones did a great job responding."

Riverdale Assistant Principal Lee Naschand said he was headed to the school for the freshman football game when he received a call that the concession stand was on fire.

The game was moved to Oakland. The electric box that controls the stadium lights is located in the concession stand, causing the lights not to work. Kriesky said he would know more about the extent of the damage and the lighting situation Tuesday.

The Warriors are not scheduled to play at home Friday night, as they travel to Centennial.

“We do have a home game on the 29th, which is homecoming. Obviously the concession stand won’t be used. The power is out to the football complex, so that’s going to be an issue,” Naschand said.

Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.