Winona Lake Fire Chief Mitch Titus

WINONA LAKE — The community is mourning the death of Winona Lake Fire Chief Mitch Titus, who was apparently injured Friday in an industrial accident and passed away Sunday at a Fort Wayne hospital.

Titus was a longtime firefighter with the department and had been in charge of the department for many years at the time of his death.

Details about his death have not been released by authorities.

The Kosciusko County Fire Association’s chaplain’s page said Titus died Sunday. The page described Titus as a “great friend and great fireman” and offered condolences.

Winona Lake Town Coordinator Craig Allebach said he was unsure how long Titus had been associated with the fire department, but he had been chief for more than a decade, possibly much longer.

“We’re deeply saddened at the passing of Mitch. He was a fireman’s firefighter. We’re really going to miss him and his leadership with the department,” Allebach said. “He was always willing to go well out of the way not only for fire department issues but anybody who needed assistance.”

“We feel really sorry for the family and our sympathies are extended to the family, the extended family and all the fire departments,” Allebach said. “It was a loss for the county too. A very sad occasion.”

By early Monday, May 6, numerous Facebook pages associated with fire departments, as well as Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office and the city of Warsaw, posted sympathies over the loss of Titus.

“The City of Warsaw shares in mourning the loss of Winona Lake Fire Chief Mitch Titus. We are thankful for the leadership and service he provided to our community,” a post on the city’s website read.

The sheriff’s office offered the following: “With heavy hearts, we join our brothers and sisters of the Winona Lake Fire Department in mourning the loss of Chief Mitch Titus. Chief Titus assisted our agency countless times throughout the years and was always there with a helping hand. Please keep the family and friends of Chief Titus in your thoughts and prayers.”

Funeral arrangements have not been announced.