Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - Around 12:15 a.m. today, Winona Lake firefighters returning from a medical call smelled smoke near the fire station.
A short investigation led the firefighters to Gamma Hall, an unoccupied residential dormitory at Grace College in Winona Lake, where heavy smoke and flames were coming from the second story of the 80-year-old building.
The firefighters immediately called Kosciusko County Central Dispatch, which alerted other members of the Winona Lake Fire Department at 12:32 a.m.
While Lt. Mitch Titus responded to the alarm, he radioed Central Dispatch to request a full manpower and equipment assist from the Warsaw Fire Department. Warsaw firefighters were on the scene four minutes later.
In all, 45 firefighters battled the blaze and brought it under control within 50 minutes.
Firefighters were still on the scene extinguishing hot spots this morning.
According to Winona Lake Fire Chief Roger Gelbaugh, incident commander of the operation, the building was a total loss with $200,000 in damages. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
The Winona Lake Fire Department responded to the scene with two engines, a ladder truck and an equipment vehicle, while the Warsaw Fire Department sent two engines and an aerial truck. Pierceton and Leesburg fire departments were put on standby but were not called to the blaze. The American Red Cross and Multi-Township EMS assisted firefighters at the scene.
