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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW It's legal now: Hundreds flock to free pot giveaways ... Ten things you should know about Oregon's new pot law ... Grass fire snuffed in northeast Medford ... It's legal now: Hundreds flock to free pot giveaways ... Ten things you should know about Oregon's new pot law ... Grass fire snuffed in northeast Medford ... EUGENE Blaze destroys Eugene's historic Civic Stadium Civic group had plans for vacated site Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jun. 29, 2015 at 8:16 PM Updated Jun 29, 2015 at 10:41 PM Posted Jun. 29, 2015 at 8:16 PM Updated Jun 29, 2015 at 10:41 PM » Social News EUGENE — A spectacular fire destroyed Eugene's historic Civic Stadium on Monday evening and prompted the temporary evacuation of a two-block area, the fire chief said. Fire crews found flames shooting twice the height of the structure when they were called to the stadium at about 5:30 p.m., police spokesman John Hankemeier said. Smoke was visible throughout the city, which is about 100 miles south of Portland. The stadium's dry, seasoned lumber caused the blaze to spread quickly, Eugene-Springfield Fire Chief Randy Groves said after the fire was controlled at about 7 p.m. He said the cause is under investigation. No one was hurt. The stadium was approved by voters in 1938 during the Great Depression and opened that same year. Labor was provided by the Works Progress Administration, and materials were donated by lumbermen in the area. The Eugene Emeralds, a minor league team, had been a long-time tenant, but vacated in 2009. A nonprofit group of community activists bought it in April, with plans to eventually build a soccer field and a park on the property. "We're really heartbroken," said Derek Johnson, co-founder of the Eugene Civic Alliance, which worked for years to secure the stadium from the city of Eugene. "It's a hard day. "When I first heard, I was desperately hoping that something could be saved of the stadium," he told The Register-Guard newspaper. "It's a magnificent structure but it was wood, and that was one of the parts of it that was really beautiful. But that wood ... that's an impermanent structure." One spectator said he saw the fire start. "I looked over and there was a small fire, just a couple feet wide, inside the press box, about 20 to 30 feet up from home plate," said Danny Sales, South Eugene High's head baseball coach. Sales said he immediately called 911. "And by the time I got off the phone with the operator, the whole stadium was on fire," he said. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jun. 29, 2015 at 8:16 PM Updated Jun 29, 2015 at 10:41 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501