Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SILVER LAKE - Seven fire departments were involved in fighting a fire Saturday afternoon in downtown Silver Lake. Firefighters returned to the site when the building rekindled Sunday morning.
Silver Lake Fire Department also was assisted by five other departments during a barn fire Friday night. Another fire also was reported at the same location Saturday morning.
Both structures were destroyed.
The fire downtown was at a missionary store at the corner of Ind. 14 and Ind. 15. The cause of that fire is under investigation and Silver Lake fire officials are awaiting the Tuesday arrival of the State Fire Marshal to continue looking into a cause.
The building, owned by Fanney Hale, contained 30,000 toys being readied for shipment to children in other areas of the nation.
The Lantern Cafe, located next door to the corner business, sustained smoke and water damage and will likely be closed for a couple days, officials said.
SLFD volunteer fireman Morris Jones said the mutual aid provided from the assisting departments "was superb ... we really appreciate the help."
Assisting at the 12:18 p.m. Saturday fire were crews from Claypool, Warsaw, Winona Lake, Sidney, Burket, North Manchester and Henry Township fire departments.
SLFD crews started out their weekend of firefighting at a 9:38 p.m. barn fire at the Randall Martin property at 11434 CR 100W. An unknown cause is listed for the fire. The barn contained between 2,000 and 3,000 bales of hay, including square and round bales.
Claypool, Sidney, Burket, Akron, North Manchester and Chester Township fire departments assisted in extinguishing that blaze. Firefighters were called back to that location on Saturday morning, when a silo that was near the barn was engulfed. The structure, filled with chopped straw, was destroyed.
