Two Maryland firefighters are facing criminal charges after allegedly using fire department equipment to flood a high school baseball field in July, disrupting an ongoing collegiate summer league game.
According to the New York Post, authorities say Capt. Christopher Reilly and firefighter Alan Barnes participated in flooding the Montgomery Blair High School baseball field following an apparent dispute with players whose home runs had landed on nearby firehouse property.
On a July day earlier this year, an errant home run from a game at the Silver Spring-based field struck the parked pickup truck of a firefighter at the adjacent fire station. Shortly after that incident, water began spraying onto the field through a fire hose connected to the firehouse, soaking the grounds and halting a game between the Silver-Spring Takoma Thunderbolts and another competitor in the collegiate summer league.
The baseball field sits just behind the Montgomery County fire station, a layout that has created ongoing tensions between firefighters and players. Multiple baseball leagues, including youth, high school, and college-level teams, use the field, which frequently sees home run balls departing the bounds of play into neighboring areas — including the fire department grounds.
The Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service identified Reilly, a department captain, and Barnes, a firefighter, as the individuals involved in the flooding incident. Both men face three misdemeanor counts: two for alleged malicious property damage and one for disorderly conduct. They have since been removed from active duty and reassigned to limited, non-public-facing roles during an internal review.
Water Crisis Forces Game Cancellation
The Thunderbolts, part of the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League, were forced to cancel their game due to the waterlogged field. The suspended match cost the team an evening’s worth of revenue, an unwelcome disruption in a season that relies on game-day proceeds and community support.
According to an NBC News report, Reilly admitted to police that he permitted the water to flow for about one minute before manually shutting it off. Still, that short span was enough to impact the field’s condition and disrupt the evening’s activities dramatically.
Barnes was reported to have helped situate the fire truck close to the water spigot, though he did not personally operate the hose. Despite this distinction, he is similarly being held accountable for his alleged involvement under the law.
Long-Standing Feud Behind the Scenes
Richard Finci, a defense lawyer representing one of the firefighters, suggested the incident should be seen in the context of a drawn-out tension between the fire station and baseball players. Finci referenced persistent issues caused by balls flying over the outfield fence and landing on firefighter vehicles or station property, describing the situation as an ongoing source of frustration. The department has not confirmed prior reports of formal complaints about the baseball field or the effects of stray balls on firehouse operations. Nevertheless, Finci portrayed his client’s actions as emerging from repeated disruptions linked directly to the geographic proximity of the two facilities.
In a public statement, Montgomery County officials emphasized that they are actively cooperating with the legal proceedings. “The Montgomery County Fire Rescue Service takes this matter very seriously,” the statement noted, underlining the department’s intent to conduct a full inquiry.
Thunderbolts and Community Weigh In
The Thunderbolts’ leadership stressed the broader implications of the incident, pointing out that their team is not solely responsible for the home run balls. Dick O’Connor, the team’s founder and director, highlighted the field’s diverse use by numerous other leagues in addition to the Thunderbolts.
“There are nine other leagues that play here,” O’Connor said. “We’re not the only ones that hit home runs.” His comments underscored frustration not only at the incident but what appears to be misplaced blame targeting a single team. While the baseball organization continues its summer campaign, the flooding episode has drawn wider attention, raising questions about inter-agency and community relations as well as oversight of public property use.
Internal Review While Legal Case Proceeds
With both Reilly and Barnes placed on limited duty, the Fire and Rescue Service has initiated an internal investigation into the July incident. The process is expected to evaluate not only their actions on that day but also any contributing issues that led to the escalation. Legal experts say that even though the charges are misdemeanors, the professional implications for both men could be significant. Outcomes of the internal review could influence disciplinary measures beyond the current reassignment.
As the case unfolds, it remains unclear whether any changes will be made to the layout of the ballfield or fire station to prevent future disputes. For now, however, the situation serves as a rare example of personal and property tensions spilling into public disruption.
