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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 Gold Hill residents say city dawdled as streets flooded ... El Nino's effects remain uncertain for Southern Oregon ... Josephine County brothers die in single-car crash ... Gold Hill residents say city dawdled as streets flooded ... El Nino's effects remain uncertain for Southern Oregon ... Josephine County brothers die in single-car crash ... CIVIC STADIUM BLAZE Police say boys fled after Civic Stadium fire got out of control Comment By Tim Fought The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Tim Fought The Associated Press Posted Jul. 2, 2015 at 3:52 PM By Tim Fought The Associated Press Posted Jul. 2, 2015 at 3:52 PM » Social News PORTLAND — A massive fire that destroyed Eugene's historic Civic Stadium was caused by four boys playing with fire who fled when the flames got out of control, investigators said Thursday. The panicked boys jumped a chain-link fence as the flames spread Monday night, hopped on their bicycles and fled, said arson investigator Steve Williams. The parents of a fifth boy who left before the fire tipped off police on Wednesday. The four are to be charged with arson, Police Chief Pete Kerns said at a news conference Thursday. One is 10, the others 12. The stadium was a jobs project in the Great Depression but hasn't been used since 2009 when the minor-league Eugene Emeralds left. A group determined to keep it from being demolished for a supermarket had bought it, taking out a $3 million insurance policy. The boys probably didn't intend to destroy the park when they used a lighter on debris in the press box above the stands behind home plate, Williams said. But they haven't given coherent reasons for why they were playing with fire, and they may not understand the magnitude of their actions, he said. "I don't know if you've ever talked to a 10- or 12-year-old boy recently, and you don't get a whole lot of rational information out of them," Williams said. "It's: 'Why did you do that?' 'I don't know.'" The fire sent flames shooting twice the height of the structure, and smoke was visible throughout the city, which is about 100 miles south of Portland. By Tim Fought The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Tim Fought The Associated Press Posted Jul. 2, 2015 at 3:52 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