Fire Destroys Tinkey Building
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Daniel Riordan-driordan@timesuniononline.com
The Warsaw Fire Department responded to a fire at the old Tinkey Oil Building located off an alley at 715 W. Market St. Monday afternoon.
Plumes of black smoke billowed from the building as crews worked to extinguish the blaze.[[In-content Ad]]"I was standing in my kitchen and all of a sudden I look out and smoke is coming out of the building," said Phil Compson
Compson, who lives on Market Street and whose kitchen window faces the Tinkey Oil building, said he heard several loud pops and explosions.
Another neighbor had the same experience.
"I was on the phone, talking to my friend, and I said, 'That building is on fire,'" said Paula Mason, who lives next door to Compson.
According to WFD, 55-gallon drums inside the building caused the explosions.
Fire crews struggled to control the blaze, but during the first two hours, they often saw the situation worsen.
When crews got to the scene, they worked on the northeast corner of the building.
As the fire lessened in one spot, it got worse in others.
For a time the smoke would turn gray and then white, but then another fire would kindle causing more black smoke to come out of the building.
At the scene, WFD Chief of Inspections Mike Wilson said the fire was only being fought externally due to fear of collapse.
Fire crews also had to deal with the elements as it began sleeting at around 5 p.m.
Wilson said he was in the building in the fall to check it and it was secure at that time.
The city of Warsaw has owned the building for several years.
An entrance to the building was found open when crews arrived.
Homes northwest of the building were evacuated while crews battled the fire.
An excavator from G & G Excavating was used to remove the exterior walls so firefighters could extinguish the fire safely.
Kosciusko County Emergency Management Director Ed Rock was on the scene to help determine the hazards from the smoke.
No injuries were reported.
Winona Lake Fire Department assisted on the scene while Leesburg and Pierceton fire departments were on standby.
American Red Cross and Multi-Township EMS were at the scene assisting firefighters.
The fire is still under investigation by the Warsaw Fire Department.
The Warsaw Fire Department responded to a fire at the old Tinkey Oil Building located off an alley at 715 W. Market St. Monday afternoon.
Plumes of black smoke billowed from the building as crews worked to extinguish the blaze.[[In-content Ad]]"I was standing in my kitchen and all of a sudden I look out and smoke is coming out of the building," said Phil Compson
Compson, who lives on Market Street and whose kitchen window faces the Tinkey Oil building, said he heard several loud pops and explosions.
Another neighbor had the same experience.
"I was on the phone, talking to my friend, and I said, 'That building is on fire,'" said Paula Mason, who lives next door to Compson.
According to WFD, 55-gallon drums inside the building caused the explosions.
Fire crews struggled to control the blaze, but during the first two hours, they often saw the situation worsen.
When crews got to the scene, they worked on the northeast corner of the building.
As the fire lessened in one spot, it got worse in others.
For a time the smoke would turn gray and then white, but then another fire would kindle causing more black smoke to come out of the building.
At the scene, WFD Chief of Inspections Mike Wilson said the fire was only being fought externally due to fear of collapse.
Fire crews also had to deal with the elements as it began sleeting at around 5 p.m.
Wilson said he was in the building in the fall to check it and it was secure at that time.
The city of Warsaw has owned the building for several years.
An entrance to the building was found open when crews arrived.
Homes northwest of the building were evacuated while crews battled the fire.
An excavator from G & G Excavating was used to remove the exterior walls so firefighters could extinguish the fire safely.
Kosciusko County Emergency Management Director Ed Rock was on the scene to help determine the hazards from the smoke.
No injuries were reported.
Winona Lake Fire Department assisted on the scene while Leesburg and Pierceton fire departments were on standby.
American Red Cross and Multi-Township EMS were at the scene assisting firefighters.
The fire is still under investigation by the Warsaw Fire Department.
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