WINONA LAKE — A long holiday weekend wrapped up Sunday night with a fireworks display in Winona Lake, which had been postponed Friday because of the weather.

 Local celebrations, as well as some on the East Coast, were disrupted by heat and the potential for storms as the country celebrated its 250th birthday. 

In Syracuse, Saturday night's fireworks on Lake Wawasee were delayed until nearly midnight and many were left with the assumption that a nearby house fire was part of the reason.

Turkey Creek Fire Territory responded to the fire on Cherokee Road in Syracuse shortly after 10 p.m., which was close to the official start time for the nearby fireworks.

One occupant was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation, and two firefighters were treated for heat-related illness. 

On Sunday morning, Turkey Creek Fire Chief Quinn Hunter sought to clarify the situation on Facebook to what he called a ton of misinformation circulating on social media. 

Hunter said the fire department's response to the structure fire was not the reason for Lake Wawasee's fireworks to be delayed.

He said firefighters assigned to the fireworks did not leave their post.

In a Facebook post, he added, "Our crews were exactly where they needed to be, doing exactly what they had been trained for and planned to do."

Fireworks delays in Syracuse and Winona Lake frustrated numerous people who posted criticisms online.

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WARSAW — The occupants of the home at 1611 E. Center St., Warsaw, were displaced after a house fire this morning.

Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory received the initial call shortly after 8:30 a.m.

Fire Chief Joel Shilling said two children and one adult were at home at the time of the fire, but no one was injured. The American Red Cross is assisting the family.

County records indicate the home is owned by Ngozi and Renae E. Aberdeen.
The fire was under control within 30 minutes, but the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The fire’s origin was in the front living room. With the type of construction of the home, Shilling said the fire made its way up the walls and into the roof, which is why firefighters had to cut a hole in the roof. There was significant smoke damage to the home.

Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory was assisted by the Winona Lake and Burket fire departments. Lutheran EMS and the Warsaw Police Department were on scene as well.

Shilling said his department did a great job of getting the fire stopped.

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WARSAW — A series of events led to a fire in a house at 9058 W. CR 700S, south of Palestine Lake Wednesday afternoon.

The Mentone Fire Department was called out at 3:35 p.m., according to Fire Chief Mike Yazel.

He said the wind blew a tree down. The tree fell on a Kosciusko REMC pole, which snapped and fell on the house. A spark from the power then set the house on fire.

Not a lot of damage resulted, however, as firefighters were able to contain the fire to the summer kitchen in the little house between two breezeways.

“No one was hurt or injured, but we did rescue a dog from the smoke-filled building,” Yazel said.

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WARSAW — There were no injuries involving a duplex fire Monday night.

Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory was alerted at about 9 p.m. Monday to a home at 2580 E. Sandy Drive, Warsaw, according to Assistant Chief Aaron Bolinger.

The property is owned by John H. Warren and Lisa E. Rostvold, according to Kosciusko County records.

Upon arrival at the scene, fire fighters saw fire coming through the roof of the duplex.

Bolinger said one side of the duplex was a total loss and the other side sustained heavy smoke damage.

WWTF was assisted by Plain Township, Winona Lake and Pierceton fire departments, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office and Lutheran EMS.

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WARSW — A fire at a vacant Warsaw home remains under investigation.

The Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory was dispatched to the house fire at 757 W. Center St., Warsaw, at 8:50 a.m. Sunday, according to Battalion Chief Nate Ide.

The home is owned by Chanda K. Allen, Warsaw, according to county records.

Along with Warsaw, fire departments from Leesburg and Winona Lake responded.

About 25 firefighters were on scene.

There were no injuries reported and no damage estimate was immediately available.

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WARSAW — A pet cat perished from smoke inhalation during a house fire Tuesday night.

According to Burket Fire Chief Kevin McSherry, at 9:13 p.m. Tuesday his department, along with the Mentone Fire Department, responded to a house fire at 4936 W. Lakeview Park Drive, north of Palestine Lake.

County records indicate the home is owned by Brian and Michelle Jackson, Warsaw. McSherry said he was told there was no insurance on the home.

The two fire departments were on scene for three hours. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

A woman and her daughter were home at the time of the fire. McSherry said he did not know how the two women became aware of the fire. There were no injuries, and he said the family had another place to stay.

Most of the home was filled with smoke, and the fire was contained to a bedroom.
No damage estimate was available.

McSherry said they had a good turnout of manpower to help battle the blaze between the two fire departments.

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WARSAW -- Fire quickly consumed a house east of Warsaw Tuesday morning.

The house fire was along CR 450E north of Old Road 30.

The blaze began after 8:30 a.m. and nobody was believed to be home at the time.

The house was located down a long gravel driveway and located next to a structure currently under construction.

The cause of the fire was unclear Tuesday morning.

Other details were also not immediately available.

Fire crews from Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory, Pierceton Fire Department and North Webster firefighters were among those responding to the blaze.

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WARSAW -- A firefighter was taken to a hospital to be checked out after an early Sunday morning house fire in Warsaw, but otherwise, there were no injuries.

“Everybody got out of the residence, pretty much immediately,” said Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory Public Information Officer Max Kinsey.

WWFT was dispatched at 5:38 a.m. Sunday to 600 E. CR 400S, Warsaw, after the homeowner called the fire in, according to Kinsey.

Property owners are listed as John M. and Laura E. Robertson, according to county records.

Kinsey said when the first firefighters arrived, the roof was on fire. The fire was contained mainly to the roof and is still under investigation.

The fire was under control by 6:29 a.m.

Also responding to the scene were Burket, Claypool, Leesburg, Pierceton, Winona Lake and Atwood fire departments and Lutheran EMS.

Kinsey said with homes out in the country, it takes a lot of tankers to supply water to fight a fire because there are no water hydrants.

The responding fire departments were a “big help” in fighting Sunday’s house fire, he said. At least 19 personnel were on the scene.

As of Sunday evening, no damage estimate was available.

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WARSAW - A home northeast of Warsaw was destroyed by fire Tuesday night.

No injuries were reported from the fire that broke out at 3456 East CR 100N, east of CR 300E shortly after 7 p.m.

By the time firefighters arrived, the blaze had spread into the ceiling and then the attic.

Firefighters from Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory along with Pierceton, Winona Lake and Leesburg fire departments responded to the blaze.

Firefighters eventually changed tactics and backed off from the roof after it was determined it was too dangerous, said WWFT Chief Garrett Holderman.

"The roof started to get spongy. We couldn't ventilate so we went defensive pretty quickly," Holderman said.

While much of the structure was still standing, Holderman said it is considered to be a total loss.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but Holderman said they don't believe the origin was suspicious in nature.

Holderman said the fire might have started in a wall.

According to Beacon Maps, the home is owned by John and Darleen Darling.

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