Griffith, IN – A vigilant Lake County Sheriff’s Department officer on patrol detected a small fire at the Merrillville-Griffith Airport shortly after 11:30 pm on Thursday. The incident quickly escalated, causing the roof of a hangar to collapse, as stated by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Firefighters from nine area jurisdictions were summoned to contain the blaze.
Although the flames were intense enough to compromise the hangar’s structure, no injuries have been reported. By approximately 3:30 am, the fire was fully extinguished, but crews remained vigilant for any potential re-ignition at the scene. The Indiana State Fire Marshal’s office is conducting a thorough investigation to pinpoint the cause and evaluate any damage to the aircraft.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Department’s own Aviation Unit hangar and aircraft, which are housed at the airport, fortunately escaped the blaze unscathed. Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. expressed his gratitude towards the first responders: “I appreciate all first responders who assisted with securing the area and fighting this fire. Their skill and dedication helped to prevent this situation from becoming worse,” he remarked.
An investigation into the cause of the fires ongoing at this time.
