Tag Archives: Delaware

Apartment Building, Residential

Wilmington, DE – Sprinkler system activated for stovetop fire at high-rise apartment building

A stovetop fire Saturday afternoon led to Wilmington firefighters being sent to a high-rise apartment building.

Crews were dispatched to the 900 block of North Market Street around 3 p.m. for a report of a water flow alarm from the building’s sprinkler system.

When firefighters got to the 7th floor, they noticed water in the hall and determined that the sprinkler system in one of the apartments had activated.

Inside that apartment, they found the sprinklers had put out a fire on the stovetop.

Firefighters turned the sprinklers off, and electricity was turned off in that apartment and several others where water was found.

After Licenses and Inspections and building management determined all the water had been removed, electricity was turned back on.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Newark, DE – Two separate commercial building fires contained by sprinkler systems; No injuries reported

The Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office determined that  two commercial building fires over the weekend were accidental.

The first fire  occurred on Friday at about 7:15 p.m. at the Tri State Battery building on 107 Albe Drive off Old Baltimore Pike, south of Newark.

Deputy firemarshal’s  went  to the scene and determined that an electrical malfunction with a lithium-ion battery ignited combustibles.

The fire was contained by the sprinkler system until the Fire Department arrived. Damage to the building is estimated at $75,000 and no injuries were reported.

The second fire was reported on  Saturday at around 12:30 p.m.  at the Delaware Solid Waste Authority, 1101 Lambsons Lane in New Castle.

Deputy fire marshals  determined the fire was caused by an undetermined heat source igniting combustibles inside of the building.

The fire was contained by the sprinkler system until firefighters   arrived. Damage to the building is estimated at $100,000 and no injuries were reported.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Newark, DE – Sprinkler system activated for arson fire at shopping center; No injuries reported

Fire damaged a recently renovated grocery store in Newark, filling the building with smoke and activating the sprinkler system late Sunday.

The fire was reported at approximately 10:45 p.m. at the Acme in The Grove at Newark, formerly known as College Square Shopping Center.

Firefighters arrived to find debris on fire in one of the aisles. The sprinkler system contained the fire, which was extinguished by firefighters.

The store was open at the time of the fire, but no one was injured.

Deputy Chief A.J. Schall said there was damage to one aisle and likely smoke and water damage throughout the store.

The state fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire, though reports from scene indicated that two juveniles ignited paper towels and then ran out of the store.

The fire came just weeks after Acme completed substantial renovations to the store, including new refrigerator cases, new flooring and a new floral department.

Apartment Building, Residential

Wilmington, DE – Sprinkler system activated for kitchen fire in apartment complex; No injuries reported

Wilmington firefighters made quick work of a kitchen fire in an apartment Saturday morning.

Crews arrived on-scene at 110 Towne Estates Drive at about 8:15 a.m. after a report of smoke coming from an apartment with alarms sounding.

Firefighters found flames in the kitchen, but the fire was being contained by the building’s sprinkler system.

The crews finished dousing the flames and turned off the sprinklers, and the situation was declared under control in about 10 minutes.

The apartment’s occupants weren’t home when the fire broke out, and no one was hurt.

The city’s Fire Marshal’s office is investigating the cause of the fire, and at this point, there’s no dollar estimate of the damage, which was said to be minimal due to the sprinklers activating.

Apartment Building, Residential

Wilmington, DE – Sprinkler system activated for third-floor apartment fire; No injuries reported

The Wilmington Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating an apartment fire that occurred Tuesday evening.

Officials said just after 10:30 the Wilmington Fire Department was called to a residential structure fire in the 200 block of W 4th Street.

Emergency responders arrived on the scene to find smoke coming from the third-floor stairwell of a four-story, wood-framed apartment building situated at the intersection of W 4th Street and N Tatnall Street.

Firefighters quickly entered the building and located the source of the fire in a third-floor apartment. The blaze was being effectively managed by the building’s sprinkler system upon their arrival officials said. The fire department personnel extinguished a small fire located in one of the bedrooms and subsequently secured the sprinkler system to prevent further damage.

The activation of the sprinkler system played an important role in containing the fire. The apartment sustained only minor fire and smoke damage. The apartment directly below suffered water damage as a result of firefighting efforts. Officials said the quick containment of the fire allowed most residents to return to their apartments shortly after the fire was declared under control, about 15 minutes following the fire department’s arrival.

There were no reported injuries. The cause and origin of the fire are currently under investigation by the Wilmington Fire Marshal’s Office.

Approximately 30 fire and EMS personnel were dispatched to the scene.

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.