Firefighters use a fire extinguisher on a transformer that blew next to the Beaver Dam 4-H Club food stand on the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds.
Text and Photos
By Deb Patterson
InkFreeNews
WARSAW — A blown transformer, next to the Beaver Dam 4-H Club’s food stand, sent fair officials racing to the scene and Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory arriving to the fairgrounds. One child was taken to the hospital to be checked for smoke inhalation and ear drum damage.
The county communications system was notified at approximately 5:54 p.m. that the fire department was needed by the food stand on the east end of the fairgrounds after a transformer blew.
Firefighters from Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory keep an eye on the transformer after it blew and caught the pole on fire.
The area around the food stand, as well as the sheep, goat, rabbit and poultry barn was closed off until fire officials could extinguish the fire. All electricity and gas was immediately shut off in that area.
InkFreeNews was contacted by one fairgoer who reported taking her 10-month old child to the emergency room after the incident. The parent and child were standing under the transformer when it blew and an excessive amount of smoke filled the area.The parents, concerned for the amount of smoke that may have been inhaled and potential damage to the child’s ear drum, took the child to the ER to be checked.
The fire caused the loss of power and water to the livestock area. It also put the fair’s opening ceremony on hold. As of 8 p.m. no word had been received if the ceremony would take place. However vesper services in the Event Tent and the horse pull at the grandstand continued as scheduled.
A fire tanker was made available at the east end of the swine barn for livestock owners to get water. However, temporary power and water was restored to several of the barns.
NIPSCO was contacted and was in the process replacing the transformer and pole at 8 p.m.
The cause of the transformer fire is unknown.
WWFT was assisted at the scene by fair officials, Lutheran EMS and the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department.