SuperDome roof on fire; damage minor

Smoke and flames shot up the side of the Superdome’s roof after a pressure washer being used to clean the roof of the New Orleans sports and entertainment arena caught fire.

The New Orleans Fire Department confirmed firefighters responded to flames on the building’s roof shortly after 12:30 p.m. The fire appeared to be under control a short time later.

New Orleans Emergency Management Services said on Twitter that they were transporting one person to the hospital for “minor burns.” Emergency officials called on people to stay away from the area.

Crews were power washing the roof this week to prepare it to be painted, officials said.

“Upon further investigation it appears that a pressure washer being used to clean the roof caught fire. Damage is still being assessed,” said a statement from the Louisiana Stadium and Expedition District, which is a state board that governs the dome, and ASM Global, which manages the Superdome.

“The fire was contained to the exterior gutter system surrounding (the) Superdome, and only a small area of the roof suffered minimal damage,” the management companies said.

BRONCOS’ CHUBB NEEDS

ANKLE SURGERY » Broncos Pro Bowl linebacker Bradley Chubb needs surgery to remove bone spurs from his left ankle just four months after undergoing a similar surgery on his right ankle.

Chubb said in a video posted on the team’s website that with the Broncos (2-0) in the midst of a resurgence, he’s going to work hard to get back this season and fans can “expect to see a whole new Bradley Chubb.”

Chubb left Denver’s 23-13 win at Jacksonville in the first half after feeling a stabbing pain in his left ankle while trying to get to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

MLB

GRIEVANCE OVER SHORTENED

SEASON OPENS SEPT. 27 » In the midst of difficult negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, Major League Baseball and its players’ association are scheduled to start a grievance hearing Sept. 27 over the union’s claim the 2020 pandemic-affected season was too short.

The timing of the hearing was disclosed to The Associated Press by people familiar with the litigation who spoke on condition they not be identified.

Martin F. Scheinman, who took over as baseball’s impartial arbitrator after the clubs fired Mark L. Irvings, will hear the case over the coronavirus-impacted 2020 season. If the union prevails, MLB might be liable for hundreds of millions of dollars in damages.

The hearing takes place as the sides are negotiating to replace the labor contract that expires Dec. 1. The sides are far apart in their central proposals thus far, and a lockout starting in December or on the eve of spring training in February appears possible. That would be the sport’s ninth work stoppage but first since the 7½-month strike that wiped out the 1994 World Series.

MLB suspended spring training on March 13 last year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Management and the union agreed March 26 “that each of the parties shall work in good faith to as soon as is practicable commence, play and complete the fullest 2020 championship season and postseason that is economically feasible, consistent with” several provisions.