People stand outside the Dr. Dane A. Miller Science Complex at Grace College on Friday, Jan. 21, following a chemical incident that occurred there. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WINONA LAKE — First responders were called out to Grace College on Friday, Jan. 21, for a chemical incident at the science center.

A call came from Kosciusko County dispatch about 7 p.m. regarding a chemical problem at the college’s Dr. Dane A. Miller Science Complex.

According to Winona Lake Fire Department Public Information Officer Mike Cox, the incident actually occurred several hours prior.

“Somewhere around 4, 4:30 p.m., we’re not sure,” he said.

“Dispatch apparently received a call from the physical plant, which is their maintenance … and then activated us to come out,” Cox said.

Cox couldn’t confirm to media what chemicals were involved in what he deemed “some type of possible chemical exposure.” He also couldn’t say what part of the building it occurred in or if it got into the building’s ventilation system.

As a result of the incident, medical staff on the scene checked out a number of students. InkFreeNews observed at least 16 people walk to get checked out, but Cox couldn’t confirm how many people were affected.

“We’ve got a lot of people coming in here that were maybe not directly exposed and we’re trying to keep everybody segregated so to give numbers right now, that’s impossible,” he said.

“We want to make sure that nobody is bad, to make sure that we’ve got everybody,” he said. “We want to make sure we do everything right so that they’re safe.”

Also responding to the scene were Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory, Winona Lake Police Department, Lutheran EMS and Grace College Campus Security.