Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - Winona Lake Fire Department estimated $150,000 in damages resulted from a house fire Saturday at 908 Chestnut St.
Their estimate includes fire-related exposure damage to three neighboring houses and a car.
Forty Winona Lake firemen were at the fire for eight hours after receiving the 5:48 p.m. call. Smoke was visible for two miles from the scene of the fire, firemen reported.
Following the collapse of the structure's roof, WLFD called for help from Warsaw Fire Department to cut ventilation holes in the roof. The collapse of the roof made it too dangerous for firemen to fight the fire on the second story, said Fire Chief Roger Gelbaugh.
Once the holes were cut in the roof firefighters were able to get water to the fire on the second story.
No one was home at the time of the blaze, authorities report. The owners of the home were from out of state, Gelbaugh said.
