Veterinarian Jeff Weitzel was putting the last suture in a dog undergoing dental surgery Tuesday afternoon at Porter County Pet Clinic, 1781 Morthland Drive, when he heard an explosion.
“The whole building shook,” he said, standing outside the clinic, in Thornapple Plaza on Valparaiso’s southwest side. “The receptionist came out front to see what was happening and there was already smoke coming out from the clinic.”
No one was injured and everyone was safely evacuated from at least half a dozen businesses in the plaza after a structural fire started at Colonial Cleaners, 1761 Morthland Drive, and damaged nearby businesses shortly after 3:30 p.m., said Sgt. Michael Grennes, public information officer with the Valparaiso Police Department.
Multiple fire departments assisted Valparaiso, including South Haven and Washington Township, and Porter County Emergency Management Agency was on the scene as well.
The police department’s new drone buzzed overhead as employees of the plaza’s businesses and passersby watched firefighters at each location.
“They’re assessing the hot spots on the roof. It’s helping guide them,” Grennes said of the drone’s infrared technology.
Grennes said the scene was “a little chaotic at first” because all of the businesses were open with employees and customers in them. The fire, he said, spread rapidly.
“Most of those places have a drop ceiling so there’s not a lot to stop it,” he said.
U.S. 30 remained open throughout the response to the fire, which officials hadn’t had a chance to start investigating late Tuesday afternoon.
“We won’t have any idea until we get into it and start investigating. It’s way too early to say,” Grennes said.
Kris Williams, owner of Once Upon a Child, 1699 Morthland Ave., said he pulled up to the back of his business and noticed a tan air conditioning unit or other utility box on fire behind Colonial Cleaners.
When he got inside the children’s resale shop, there “was smoke inside the building,” he said, adding a handful of customers were already outside and he told his two employees to leave the store.
Fire trucks started showing up immediately and the police were there within minutes, he said.
“If smoke and stuff got into the clothes and toys we have there, we can’t resell it,” Williams said. “We don’t know what we’re going to do.”
Weitzel, at the animal hosppital, said his staff was able to grab the clinic’s computer backup on their way out, so they have most of their files.
“We’re figuring out kind of a plan,” he said. “We will be up and running in some fashion by Thursday.”
Amy Lavalley is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
