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Smoke from the Warsaw Plating Works fire Wednesday night moved toward the northeast and could have caused breathing difficulties to individuals.
According to a Warsaw Fire Department press release, as a safety concern, the neighborhood to the north of Warsaw Plating Works, intersection of Lincoln and East Jefferson streets, was evacuated for a short time.
The building was not occupied at the time of the fire. No injuries were reported to firefighters at the scene. Damage estimate was not available at press time.
At approximately 10:15 p.m. Wednesday, the Kosciusko County Central Dispatch received 911 calls reporting the building was on fire. Warsaw fire and police were sent to the scene. Upon arrival, firefighters from WFD Station Two reported the structure was on fire and that the fire had vented through the roof.
At midnight, the fire was declared under control. Firefighters remained on the scene throughout the night to contain and extinguish small fires concealed from the roof collapse. Fire officials remained on the scene throughout the morning to conduct an investigation into the cause of the fire and to make sure smoldering fires are contained.
Fire units from Warsaw and Winona Lake fire departments responded to the scene. Numerous hand lines were advanced to the structure and both ladder trucks from WFD and WLFD were used to contain the fire within the center sections of the block-long building.
Assistance was received from the Leesburg Fire Department, and the Pierceton Fire Department was placed on stand-by.
