28-03-2025
One injured in apartment fire above South Side Soda Shop
GOSHEN — One of the residents of an upstairs apartment at the South Side Soda Shop, 1122 S. Main St., was injured in a fire that started at 11:09 p.m. Wednesday.
Goshen Chief Fire Inspector Scott Thomas said he did not have any specifics on the person's injury, but that person, who was a tenant, was taken to Goshen Hospital for treatment. Co-owner of South Side Soda Shop Nic Boyd-Lehman said the tenant was released from the hospital last night.
A Goshen police report said that two males were inside the residence and were able to evacuate, with one of the men suffering minor burns.
Firefighters arrived within five minutes at the scene and had the fire under control within 20 minutes, Thomas said.
He explained there were two apartments upstairs, but only one of the apartments had extensive fire damage. That apartment is where the fire originated at, but a cause has not yet been determined.
Boyd-Lehman said while they're still waiting on an official report, it is suspected that the cause might been an improper use of an extension cord and power strip.
The diner itself had water and ceiling damage from the water being placed on the fire above it, Thomas said, adding that firefighters tried to control the damage by using salvage tarps inside the diner. The restaurant will still need to be temporarily closed until repairs can be made.
'We're currently in conversation with remediation companies and our insurance to get reopened as soon as possible and should be able to within four weeks,' Boyd-Lehman said.
A Facebook post from the diner's owners reads, 'The Goshen Fire Department responded quickly and was able to contain the fire to one of the upstairs apartment[s].
'The restaurant is standing and will be able to reopen in the future. We will be closed until further notice.
'The Boyd family thanks the Goshen Fire Department for their swift action. We can only imagine how catastrophic things could have been. Luckily everyone is safe.'
