Fire that destroyed Exeter Township High School's sheds, football equipment suspicious, officials say

EXETER TWP., Pa. -

It was a hard hit off the field for the Exeter Township High School football team after some of their equipment was damaged by fire, which, police said, was intentionally set.

Two sheds near the football field were reduced to ashes, and some vandalism was also found at the high school.

"For them to do this to us is just hard to believe," said Blair Eckel, a freshman at the high school.

Orange fencing outlined the destruction Monday. The fire showed no mercy as flames tore through the sheds, leaving behind a charred frame.

"It was really bright," said Drew Eckel, who first saw the smoke then the flames at Don Thomas Stadium. "It was a substantial fire and I looked down and saw stuff on the field too so they must have thrown stuff on the field."

Eckel graduated this past spring and feared his old team's track equipment was inside, but police said football gear and soccer supplies were torched in the fire.

"There was obviously some people with an agenda on their mind. It was real disappointing," said Joe Strauss, whose kid goes to the high school.

The fire drew an army of firefighters from multiple departments around 11:45 p.m. Saturday. They managed to put it out in minutes, but the damage was done.

Police said they also found vinyl advertising signs sliced and cut around the stadium.

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Fire that destroyed Exeter Township High School's sheds, football equipment suspicious, officials say