Firefighters from 13 fire departments responded to a fire at 18 S. Main Street in Knox Thursday morning.
A Knox City Police Department officer reportedly spotted smoke coming from the front of the building that housed Vorpal Gaming at 18 S. Main Street shortly after 8:30 a.m. CT. Knox-Center Township Fire Chief Kenny Pfost said he was on his way to the fire station and drove past the scene where he initially saw heavy brown smoke coming from the front of the building. When he came back with the first responding engine, he told WKVI News that flames were showing through the Main Street side window. As the fire grew, more departments were asked to respond.
The fire caused damage to adjoining restaurants Birdie’s and The Downtown Depot, and the smoke could be seen for miles.
Starke County EMS Director Eric Wood said there were no injuries. He added that officials from Dollar General provided water and Gatorade to the firefighters and first responders at the scene. Christos, Knox Community Schools and Northwest Health – Starke provided food, water, Gatorade, and other needs for those working at the scene and the Red Cross assisted firefighters. Many bystanders also helped distribute water.
Many businesses closed downtown due to the event.
The Starke County Courthouse and Starke County Annex were closed Thursday afternoon.
An investigator from the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office was called to the scene to help determine the origin and cause of the fire.
The Knox-Center Township Fire Department was assisted at the scene by firefighters from Hamlet-Davis Township, North Judson-Wayne Township, Bass Lake-California Township, Koontz Lake-Oregon Township, Plymouth-Center Township, Winamac, San Pierre, Walkerton-Polk Township, Culver-Union Township, Kingsford Heights, Lacrosse, and Kouts Fire Departments, plus the Starke County EMS, Red Cross, and the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office.
