Tag Archives: Delaware

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Dewey Beach, DE – Sprinkler system activated for fire in residential unit; No injuries reported

A Feb. 19 fire caused $75,000 in damage to a Dewey Beach residential unit.

The fire was reported at 7:30 p.m. at 1701 Bayard Ave., where firefighters from Rehoboth Beach, Lewes and Bethany Beach found flames coming from top floors of a four-unit building, officials said.

A residential sprinkler system confined the fire to unit A of the building, with moderate damage to the exterior of the structure, officials said. Occupants had exited the home before firefighters arrived, and there were no injuries reported.

Firefighters were on the scene for more than two hours extinguishing the blaze. The Delaware State Fire Marshal is investigating to determine the origin and cause of the fire. More information will be posted when available.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Seaford, DE – Sprinkler system activated for fire at hotel; No injuries reported

An accidental fire caused roughly $500 in damage to a hotel Wednesday, Delaware Fire Marshal’s Office spokesman John Galaska said.

The blaze at the Motel 6 in the 24000 block of Sussex Highway was reported shortly before 8:30 p.m., authorities said. The Seaford Volunteer Fire Department arrived to find smoke coming from one of the rooms.

The fire was controlled by the building’s automatic fire sprinkler system, and firefighters completed extinguishing it. The building was occupied, but all escaped without injury, Mr. Galaska said. Mutual-aid fire companies also assisted.

Investigators determined that the fire was caused by the failure of a charging electrical appliance.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Newark, DE – Sprinkler system douses hotel fire, ruled arson; No injuries reported

A fire at a Newark hotel has been ruled a case of arson.

The fire was reported just after midnight Saturday at the Red Roof Inn on South College Avenue, Delaware state Fire Marshal’s investigators said.

Aetna Hose, Hook and Ladder personnel, along with crews from neighboring companies, responded.

The building’s sprinkler system doused the flames, the alarm system activated, and hotel guests got out safely.

Investigators determined the fire was deliberately set, and they’re urging anyone who knows anything about the incident to call the state Fire Marshal’s Office’s New Castle Division at 302.323.5375 or email at fire.marshal@delaware.gov also callers may call Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1.800.TIP.3333.

Information offered to investigators will remain confidential.

Uncategorized

Greenville, DE – Fire caused by Electrical malfunction put out by fire sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Blazes damage Greenville building on Kennett Pike Wednesday afternoon.

Talleyville Fire Company responded to the scene around 12:30 p.m. at Greenville Center on Kennett Pike. They found smoke coming from the two-story, commercial building, Delaware’s Office of State Fire Marshal said.

Fire marshals say the fire was then extinguished by the building’s fire sprinkler system preventing the spread of the flames.

The fire was accidental and originated inside the ceiling of a second-floor office and was caused by an electrical malfunction of fixed electrical wiring, fire marshals said.

No injuries were reported and the fire caused $10,000 in damages, according to fire marshals.

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential, Residential High Rise

Newark, DE – No injuries in fire at high-rise student housing complex; Sprinkler system contained fire

No one was injured in an early morning fire at a high rise student housing complex behind the Newark Shopping Center, the Aetna Hose, Hook and Ladder Co. reported. At 2:36 a.m., Aetna Hose, Hook & Ladder Company along with mutual aid from Christiana Fire, Cranston Heights Fire Company,Mill Creek Fire Company – Stations 2&21, andMinquas Firewere dispatched to 1 Easton Court.

Crews arrived to the six-story wood-framed 220 unit high rise structure to find a fire on the 4th floor with the sprinkler system containing the blaze. Firefighters credited the sprinkler system for minimizing what could have been a serious situation. Thirty six units sustained water damage and building management assisted displaced students, who are now in other housing including hotels. No one was injured. Newark Delaware Police Department and the Newark Fire Marshal’s Office also responded to the incident.

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Middletown, DE – Fire at Amazon fulfillment center put out by automatic sprinkler system

The Delaware Office of the State Fire Marshal has determined that last night’s Amazon fire in Middletown was accidental and caused minimal damage.  The Volunteer Hose Company of Middletown was called to the Amazon Fulfillment Center at 560 Merrimac Avenue at 9:30 pm for a reported fire inside the processing area. Upon arrival, it was learned that the fire sprinkler system had extinguished the fire. State fire investigators were called to the scene According to a release, the fire occurred at the mezzanine level when static electricity ignited leaking vapor from a container of assorted aerosol cans. The area where the fire began was protected by a fully automatic fire sprinkler system which put the fire out and prevented the blaze from spreading. Fire damage was confined to the stockpile of merchandise and was estimated at $1,000. There were no reported injuries, despite scanner news reports to the contrary on Tuesday night.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Christiana, DE – Kitchen fire at TownePlace Suites hotel knocked down by sprinkler system

A fire inside a guest room at a Christiana hotel on Thursday was ruled accidental by officials later that day. The Delaware State Fire Marshal determined the cause of the blaze—which was reported around 4:30 p.m., on the fourth floor of the TownePlace Suites by Marriott, located at 410 Eagle Run Road—was a cardboard box that had been placed on top of a working stove.  According to state fire investigators, as the box was placed on the appliance, it accidentally turned on a burner by contacting the burner control knob.  The building’s fire sprinkler system had been operating properly, officials advised, allowing a nearby sprinkler head to detect and, subsequently, extinguish the flames.  Officials reported no injuries among hotel guests, who were alerted to evacuate by the building’s fire alarm system. Alternate accommodations were provided to guests at other Marriott properties, until the hotel could be reopened.  No estimate of damages was provided.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Rehoboth Beach, DE – Overnight laundry fire in basement of resort hotel put out by sprinkler system

A basement fire already extinguished before emergency personnel arrived forced the evacuation of all guests from the Atlantic Sands Hotel in Rehoboth Beach just before midnight. It was still Sunday, around 11:55 p.m., when the Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company dispatched to the hotel, located at 101 North Boardwalk, for what was called in as a kitchen fire in the basement, fire officials said.

Rehoboth Beach Firefighters, Rehoboth Beach Police and Atlantic Sands Security personnel evacuated all guests. But a basement dryer had caught fire and the sprinkler system had already put it out, officials said. Firefighters remained on the scene for a couple of hours removing smoke and water from the sprinklers.

No injuries were reported. Rehoboth Beach Firefighters were assisted by Lewes Fire Department, the Bethany Beach Fire Company, Rehoboth Beach Police and Sussex County EMS.  The Indian River and Milton Fire Companies covered the Rehoboth Fire Stations during the alarm.

Other Business, Other-Government/Military

Wilmington, DE – Fire at Amtrak maintenance building contained to area of origin by sprinkler system

A fire broke out at an Amtrak maintenance building in Wilmington Monday morning but was quickly extinguished, according to officials.  It has been ruled accidental.  Wilmington firefighters were called to 4001 Vandever Ave. just before 7 a.m. for a report of smoke coming from building No. 17, known as the “Powerhouse,” according to a statement on the fire. The building is located within Amtrak’s maintenance facility for the Northeast Corridor.

The fire was placed under control by 7:22 a.m. Prior to the fire department’s arrival, several Amtrak employees attempted to extinguish the fire with portable extinguishers, according to officials. The 120-by-55-feet warehouse-style building sustained both fire and smoke damage, but the building was equipped with an automatic sprinkler system which had activated, confining the fire to the area of origin. Approximately 60 fire and EMS personnel responded.

Retail, Shopping Mall

Greenville, DE – Overnight jewelry store fire controlled by sprinkler system

A building fire that caused about $100,000 in damages to the Jewelry Exchange of Delaware in Greenville was deemed accidental, according to the State Fire Marshal’s Office.  The fire, which happened around 2:30 a.m. at the Greenville Crossing II Shopping Center on Kennett Pike, prompted the response of the Talleyville Fire Company, said Assistant State Fire Marshal Michael Chionchio. Investigators determined that the fire started in the back of the store when an electrical malfunction involving a refrigerator sparked the blaze, Chionchio said.  The automatic sprinkler system that contained the fire until firefighters arrived, he said. No one was hurt.