This post was provided by News Now Warsaw
By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WINONA LAKE — A long holiday weekend wrapped up Sunday night with a fireworks display in Winona Lake, which had been postponed Friday because of the weather.
Local celebrations, as well as some on the East Coast, were disrupted by heat and the potential for storms as the country celebrated its 250th birthday.
In Syracuse, Saturday night’s fireworks on Lake Wawasee were delayed until nearly midnight and many were left with the assumption that a nearby house fire was part of the reason.
Turkey Creek Fire Territory responded to the fire on Cherokee Road in Syracuse shortly after 10 p.m., which was close to the official start time for the nearby fireworks.
One occupant was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation, and two firefighters were treated for heat-related illness.
On Sunday morning, Turkey Creek Fire Chief Quinn Hunter sought to clarify the situation on Facebook to what he called a ton of misinformation circulating on social media.
Hunter said the fire department’s response to the structure fire was not the reason for Lake Wawasee’s fireworks to be delayed.
He said firefighters assigned to the fireworks did not leave their post.
In a Facebook post, he added, “Our crews were exactly where they needed to be, doing exactly what they had been trained for and planned to do.”
Fireworks delays in Syracuse and Winona Lake frustrated numerous people who posted criticisms online.
