A devastating fire broke out in Bear on Wednesday afternoon, causing significant damage to a home in the unit block of Blue Spruce Drive in Bear’s Sylvan Park development.
Emergency responders from the Christina Fire Company were dispatched after receiving reports of the fire at 1:04 pm.
Callers reported heavy flames coming from the back of the residence, alerting firefighters to the emergency. Upon arrival, crews were met with fire that had penetrated the roof, and thick black smoke billowed into the sky.
The firefighters immediately sprang into action, initiating a direct attack on the blaze. However, the intensity of the fire soon forced them to change tactics and transition to a defensive strategy. Firefighters were ordered to evacuate the home, focusing their efforts on containing the fire from outside.
The residence suffered extensive damage as the fire raged through it. However, no injuries were reported.
The Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating to determine the cause of the fire.
The blaze resulted in the displacement of two occupants of the home. The Red Cross was called to assist those affected by the incident.
The impact of the fire extended beyond the boundaries of the immediate property, as the intense heat from the fire damaged two adjacent homes. The extent of the damage to these neighboring properties is still being assessed.
Several readers shared videos and photos of the smoke and flames engulfing the house. One observer even witnessed the fire from an office building in Downtown Wilmington.
The Christiana Fire Company was supported by multiple fire companies from across New Castle County as well as medical crews.