PRELIMINARY UPDATE — At least five buses and a support vehicle were destroyed in this morning’s fire at the Warsaw Bus Garage.

Warsaw Community Schools have closed for the day. Neighboring school corporations have reportedly offered assistance with buses if needed.

Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department Public Information Officer Chad Hill, on behalf of Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory Fire Chief Michael Wilson, reports the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Hill reported the original call was received by the 911 Center at 5:47 a.m. Two employees had reported to work as normal and entered the office area of the building to discover the fire alarm activated. As the employees walked toward the shop area, they encountered heavy smoke and exited the building. The employees notified the 911 Center and reported the heavy smoke and seeing flames coming through the roof.

The first firefighters at the scene observed heavy plums of dark smoke as well as flames coming through the roof.

Firefighters took an exterior attack as no people were inside the building and due to the intense heat.

The fire investigation is a joint effort between Leesburg/Plain Township and Warsaw-Wayne Township Fire Territory. Winona Lake provided a full assist with equipment and firefighters. Tanker assistance was provided by Pierceton, Atwood, North Webster and Milford fire departments.

According to Hill, Kosciusko County Emergency Management, Indiana Department of Natural Resources and Warsaw Wastewater Department were called to the scene to evaluate any potential ground contamination due to water run off from the fire.

The American Red Cross, Kosciusko County Chapter, disaster response team is on scene providing a canteen for firefighters.

WARSAW — Warsaw, Leesburg and Winona Lake fire departments remain at the scene of a fire at the Warsaw Bus Garage where two fire alarms have been received and flames are reported. The initial call was received at approximately 5:50 a.m.

The garage is located at 350E 200N, Warsaw. Police have closed off CR 200N to traffic. However, employees of businesses in that area will be allowed to those businesses only.

In addition to the three fire departments, tanker assistance is being provided by Milford, North Webster, Atwood and Pierceton. Pierceton and Claypool fire departments are on standby.

The fire was contained at approximately 6:35 a.m. The American Red Cross has been contacted to provide a canteen for the approximately 40 firefighters who will be at the scene throughout most of the day.