'It Was Pretty Scary': Construction Firm Investigating 2-Alarm Fire At New Rangers Stadium
ARLINGTON, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) — Arlington firefighters and Manhattan Construction are trying to determine what sparked a 2-alarm fire that sent thick black smoke into the air from Globe Life Field, the Texas Rangers' new stadium under construction.
The fire began shortly before 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the $1.2 billion stadium set to open in March.
Cell phone video captured the smoke rising from an upper section of Globe Life Field.
WATCH: 2-Alarm Fire Breaks Out At New Globe Life Field In Arlington
An industrial painter for the stadium, Jose Camarena, said he was near the fire when it ignited.
"It was pretty scary, it was pretty intense," he said.
Video posted on Snapchat from a worker at the stadium showed men working above the fire. In it, one can be heard asking another if they want the basket to be sent up.
The other worker can be heard urgently saying, "Send it! Send it!"
Exclusive video of the fire sent to CBS 11 showed firefighters racing into the stadium.
WATCH: Exclusive Video Of Arlington Firefighters Putting Out Flames At New Rangers Stadium
One of the painters who escaped, Eric Craig, said the fire intensified quickly.
"I got down so fast because it was hot," Craig said. "It was hot so they just made everyone get down, come straight down to the bottom."
Senior Vice President at Manhattan Construction, Greg McClure, told CBS 11 that a crate of materials caught fire about 100 feet up. Now, the construction firm and the Arlington Fire Department are trying to figure out how.
Arlington Deputy Fire Chief Jonathan Ingols said they got the fire under control in 37 minutes and he credited their ability to train at the stadium every day.
"I can't speak enough to the men and women of the Arlington Fire Department who got up there and did this today," Ingols said. "It's a long, hard climb up there to the roof of that building and they practice on it regularly. Without the partnership between us, Manhattan and the Rangers, these kinds of things can get out of hand really fast."
Camarena said they also train for situations like this.
"Knowing we had a plan made everything better," he said.
They are all thankful no one was hurt.
On Sunday, McClure said Manhattan Construction will bring an engineer to the stadium to determine if there is any structural damage.
Until then, he said there is no indication whether the fire will impact the stadium's opening.
But, McClure said work will continue at the stadium Sunday.
