On Tuesday, September 21st, 2021 at 12:20 am, Wilmington Firefighters were alerted to a residential structure fire at 1010 Clifford Brown Walk, according to Wilmington Fire Spokesman Captain Matthew Marsella.
Marsella said fire department units arrived on scene to find fire showing from the first floor of a two-story, middle of a row, dwelling. On arrival, units were confronted with heavy fire throughout the first floor and were informed of subjects trapped on the second floor.
Crews made an initial attempt through the front door to reach the trapped victims through the interior stairs but fire conditions degraded the stairs, making them unusable. Members were able to access the second floor via an outside ground ladder and were able to find two victims in the front bedroom area. Fire conditions present on the first and second floor slowed rescue operations and the subjects were pronounced deceased on scene.
Three residents were able to escape the fire prior to the fire department arrival and had no injuries. Fire spread occurred to the attic and roof of 1008 Clifford Brown Walk but was stopped from spreading further by aggressive ventilation and fire attack by ladder and engine crews. Currently, five residents are receiving housing assistance through the American Red Cross.
Two firefighters were injured during the house fire, but have been treated and released from the hospital. The Wilmington Fire Marshal’s Office is currently conducting an investigation into the cause and origin of the fire. Identities of the deceased are not being released at this time, pending next of kin notification said Marsella.
