COLDWATER (WTVB) – A tremendous show of support from the community and no injuries reported. Two positives going forward in the difficult journey ahead for the dozens of people including many families who lost everything while escaping the blaze early Monday morning in Coldwater that gutted a major portion of the Coldwater Inn Motel on US 12. T
he flames spread from the office area to the one story section of rooms from which the residents fled into the frigid sub-zero conditions. The Coldwater Fire Department and firefighters from the four other departments in Branch County as well as Colon battled the fire throughout the morning and finally knocked it down with the help of front loaders and bulldozers.
The displaced residents of the motel were taken first to the Coldwater Church of the Nazarene and then to Coach Eby Youth and Family Center where food and clothing were provided. Additional donations are needed and can be dropped off at the Coach Eby Center, where the families will be returning this afternoon through early this evening to gather needed items. Branch County Sheriff John Pollack last night at the County Township Supervisors Association meeting praised the work of everyone involved including his department’s Victims Services Unit and mentioned, among others, Walmart, Meijer, Jeannie’s Diner, McDonalds, Biggby Coffee, all chipping in to provide things. Pollack said this outpouring is an example of why people are happy to live in Coldwater and Branch County.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Coldwater Fire Chief Rich Sherman will be issuing a news release today. He said the office building at the Coldwater Inn Motel had serious electrical issues. The Department was called out Sunday evening around 7:30 for a reported small blaze in the office area although Sherman said it’s believed another separate electrical source in the office may have been responsible for the inferno that erupted early Monday.
