The fire that destroyed Gordy's Sub Pub and caused damage to the Chamber of Commerce building has not yet been ruled an arson, according to the Warsaw Fire Department.
At 12:59 a.m. Saturday, Warsaw Police Department officer Brandon Zartman responded to a dispatch call of a dumpster fire in an alley on the northeast side of Gordy's, 101 E. Winona Avenue.
Zartman said he observed the dumpster that was on fire, and stated the fire spread to a nearby utility pole, eventually catching the roof of Gordy's on fire.The fire also caused damage to Tokens 'N' Tickets, which is located on the first floor of Gordy's, and the Chamber of Commerce building, which is just north of Gordy's on Buffalo Street.
Early reports from the scene claimed several juveniles were believed to have set the dumpster on fire.
"I saw these kids by the back dumpster. I don't know if they were just watching the fire or what, but they scattered, then the fire caught on to the utility pole," said eyewitness Bruno Martinski, who called police.
According to the Warsaw Police Department, no one has been arrested in connection with the fire, and there are currently no persons of interest.
The WFD has yet to rule the fire arson.
Around the time of the fire, several juveniles were arrested for possession/consumption of alcohol by a minor.
At that time, an Alcohol Tobacco and Firearm dog, Bailey, that stays at the Warsaw Fire Department station, sniffed the juveniles and did not detect any accelerants on the juveniles.
The fire took 40 minutes to get under control.
One firefighter suffered a minor arm injury while at the scene.
WFD listed the damages as exceeding $600,000, while WPD had the damage estimated at $1 million. The Chamber of Commerce building sustained $20,000 in damage, according to WPD.
The fire remains under investigation.
Winona Lake, Atwood, Leesburg and Claypool fire departments assisted at the scene. Red Cross also assisted.
