Worker Burned In South Paulding Baseball Team's Building Fire

PAULDING COUNTY, GA -- Parents were surprised to see the South Paulding High School baseball team's field house burning at around 4 p.m. as they picked up their children from school Tuesday. The fire happened one day before the team was scheduled to play in Kennesaw in the GHSA playoffs.

The fire happened in an outbuilding that was used for baseball equipment storage for the team, according to Lt. Steve Mapes, Paulding County Fire Department.

The investigation is complete and the cause was determined to be refueling a lawn mower which ignited under a roof, said Mapes. The worker suffered minor flash burns and was treated and released by Metro EMS on the scene.

South Paulding High is located on Winn Road in unincorporated south Paulding County.

According to school spokesperson Jay Dillon, the damage appears to be significant. He said any equipment that can be salvaged, will be.

The school district notified parents of students who attend South Paulding High and Dugan Elementary through email.

"Please be aware that this afternoon just before 4 p.m., the SPHS baseball field house caught on fire. Fortunately it is an isolated building and no other buildings were impacted, and there were no students in the area," read the email.

"The Fire Department was called immediately and arrived in time to extinguish what was left of the fire.

"Learning Bridge students at Dugan Elementary were moved to the front of the building as a precaution until the fire was extinguished."

South Paulding's varsity baseball team is headed to Kennesaw Wednesday to face Harrison High School in the second round of the GHSA state playoffs.