The Office of the State Fire Marshal in Delaware has concluded that the fire that heavily damaged a home in Newark this afternoon was accidental. The blaze, which was reported around noon, occurred in the unit block of Renee Lane in the Chestnut Valley development off Paper Mill Road. The Hockessin Fire Company responded to the scene, where flames were seen shooting from the garage, eventually leading to a two-alarm fire.
During the firefighting efforts, a partial collapse occurred, resulting in five firefighters being evaluated by medical crews at the scene for potential injuries. A Mayday call was declared, indicating a distress signal from at least one of the firefighters. However, all firefighters involved in the incident managed to escape with non-life-threatening injuries.
Firefighters from multiple jurisdictions, including New Castle County and Chester County, Pennsylvania, battled the intense blaze for about an hour before the incident was placed under control.
Deputy fire marshals were dispatched to the scene to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fire. Through their examination, it was determined that the fire originated inside the garage due to a malfunction with a riding lawn mower that had recently been operated. The fire quickly spread from the garage, causing substantial damage to the property. No other injuries were reported.
As a result of the fire, three residents have been displaced from their home. The extent of the fire damage has been estimated at $500,000.