An investigator from the state fire marshal’s office will be called in to determine the origin and cause of a fire that destroyed a Starke County business. The Bass Lake Fire Department was initially called to C &C Salvage on U.S. 35 south of Toto Road at 5:17 p.m. Thursday night, according to dispatchers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Office. A black mushroom cloud of smoke could be seen for miles. Firefighters from the Knox, North Judson, Hamlet, Washington Township, Koontz Lake, San Pierre and Monterey were all called in to assist. Bass Lake Fire Chief Les Jensen says one firefighter suffered minor injuries. The office and a storage building that front the highway both sustained significant smoke and fire damage. The extent of the damage behind the buildings is uncertain at this time. The final firefighters left the scene just after 10 p.m. They used so much water battling the blaze that several Knox residents were complaining about rust-colored water. Knox Water Superintendent Todd Gardner advises running the tap until the water clears up. WKVI news will update this story as soon as additional information becomes available.
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