Kentland fire chief: Business a 'total loss'

KENTLAND, Ind. (WLFI) - Hours after crews left the scene of a Monday night fire at Lehman Manufacturing, they were called back to the business Tuesday afternoon after hot spots re-sparked.

Kentland Fire Chief Vince Lowe said the initial call the business was up in flames came in just before 9 Central Standard Time.

"I immediately called mutual aid," Chief Lowe said. "We made an aggressive exterior attack on what we could see at the time."

Chief Lowe said seven additional fire departments were called to assist the Kentland Fire Department.

"We were kind of worried about water supplies so we went ahead and requested extra tankers from the surrounding departments to eliminate a water problem if we were to have it," Chief Lowe said.

But he said it wasn't just the flames they were up against. He said Mother Nature was a complete, separate battle.

"Because of the wind being as strong as it was, we were unable to gain control as soon as we would have liked to so I believe it's a total loss," Chief Lowe said.

Lowe said the company manufactured fiber-glass fenders for semi-trucks.

However, the owners were unavailable for comment Tuesday.

No one was in the building at the time of the fire and no one was hurt.

The cause is under investigation.