It didn’t take long for the fire to expand its wrath.

By Deb Patterson
InkFreeNews

MILFORD — Milford Assistant Fire Chief Brian Haines reported the cause of the fire at 203 E. Syracuse St., Milford, is unknown. Milford Fire Department was notified of the fire at 11:47 a.m. Wednesday, May 10.

A full assist from Plain Township and Turkey Creek Fire Territory was provided. Additional manpower was provided by Foraker and New Paris.

Because of a natural wetland behind the building, County Emergency Management Director Kip Shutter, along with an assistant chief from Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory trained in hazardous materials, were called to the scene. No hazards were reported to the wetland area.

Only a portion of the cement building at 203 S. Syracuse St., Milford, remains following a fire Wednesday, May 9. An excavator was brought in to knock down the north portion of the building to assist firefighters in extinguishing the fire.

One firefighter did sustain minor injuries and was transported to Goshen Hospital for treatment.

Milford firefighters remained at the scene until 5 p.m.

An excavator from Phend and Brown was called in to knock down the north portion of the building.

At the height of the fire, approximately 35 firefighters were at the scene. The ladder truck from Turkey Creek Fire Territory was used to knock down the fire from the top.

With smoke billowing from the back portion of the building and flames shooting from the roof, workers could be seen rolling out materials in attempts to salvage as much of the building’s contents as possible. Firefighter had to tell the workers to cease any further attempts to remove items from the building due to the hazards present.

Business Operating Without A Permit

The property is owned by Eric and Marcia Bechtel, Milford, and reportedly was allowing a company to use the building as a fiberglass business without a permit. The property is zoned for light industrial, but a variance was granted for personal storage only.

In April the Bechtels petitioned the county board of zoning appeals for a variance to permit the building to be used as a fiberglass and small parts repair business. A previous permit was granted to use the building for personal storage.

During the April 11 meeting, the Bechtels reported Superior Composites approached them regarding renting a portion of the building for its business after a fire. That fire was Oct. 16, across the street in one of two Quonset buildings. Superior Composites then moved into the Bechtel building without obtaining a permit.

Matt Sandy, county planner, asked the Bechtels in April whether the state had looked at the building for fire suppression and the Bechtels responded no. Bechtel was told the Milford Town Council had voiced concerns to the BZA of the business being on the property and the company renting the property already had one fire.

The request was tabled in April to allow Bechtel to contact state officials and was brought back to the BZA in May.

The request was again tabled at the May 9 meeting, as the Bechtels were not able to contact anyone at the state regarding the building being in compliance for fire suppression. Kevin McSherry, BZA board member, expressed concern at that time that Superior Composites was still conducting business at the building without a permit.