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.
