http://www.wndu.com/localnews/headlines/13818547.htmlFire at two factories
One incident started at furnace; no injuries reported
By Dannielle Hetz
Sturgis Journal
Published: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 10:00 PM CST
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HOWE, Ind. - Fire broke out at two factories Tuesday morning near the Indiana Toll Road.
One fire was at Keystone. Ron Fennell from the St. Joseph County Sheriff's Department said the fire started around 6:52 a.m.
"It was a small fire in the mill room at Keystone, caused by the furnace," Fennell said.
Another fire broke out down about a mile away at Iceberg, the distribution center for Penguin LLC on U.S. 12. The distribution center caught on fire shortly after the Keystone fire.
Tom Watkins, executive vice president/general manager of Penguin, said as soon as the call was made Howe, LaGrange, Fawn River Township, Sturgis, and Burr Oak fire departments showed up on the scene.
"All the fire departments responded well to the call," Watkins said.
The Little Tikes area of the building was damaged, but firefighters kept the west wing from being damaged, Watkins said. The fire departments had to open the roof for ventilation and most of the damage is from the water from the sprinkler system and the hoses. No one was hurt or injured.
The cause of fire at Iceberg could not be confirmed Tuesday.
The fire was caused by a gas leak in a furnace. The furnace had been repaired a couple days prior, but apparently
.
The warehouse had about five inches of standing water in it by the time the firefighter left. Considering the warehouse is several hundred thousand square feet, that's a lot of frickin' water!