Wayland Scouts Mount Fundraiser To Repair Vandalized Scout House

WAYLAND, MA — A Wayland scouting group has started a fundraiser to raise $20,000 to repair a scout house damaged in a vandalism spree earlier this month.

During the overnight hours between March 19 and March 20, three people under age 18 broke into the scout house along Parkland Drive. The vandals broke down doors and defaced photographs, but most of the damage stemmed from dozens of fire extinguishers they set off inside the building.

Wayland Scouting chairman Matthew Karpacz said the vandals created "blizzard-like conditions" in the building after discovering a cache of training fire extinguishers used to teach scouts how to put out camp fires.

"The Scout House is closed due to the potential harmful effects from the fine chemical used in dry powder fire extinguishers on the lungs, skin and eyes," the fundraiser says. "When we know the Scout House is completely safe, we will allow our Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, along with their highly dedicated adult volunteers to resume normal meetings and activities."

The scouts need to hire a special cleaning company to vacuum the dry powder. The organization's insurance won't cover the cost of cleanup, Karpacz has said.

Wayland police are pursuing charges against the three vandals, who are all between the ages of 12 and 18, Chief Sean Gibbons has said.

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