A residential fire that broke out on May 3, 2025, in the unit block of Scarborough Lane in Ocean View is under investigation by the Delaware Office of the State Fire Marshal. The fire was reported shortly after 5:00 p.m. and involved a single-family home, which was occupied at the time of the incident.
Chief Deputy John Galaska of the Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office confirmed that the Millville Volunteer Fire Company, along with mutual aid companies, responded to the scene and encountered heavy flames on the exterior of the residence. The occupants were inside the home when the fire began but managed to evacuate safely after noticing a pile of mulch ablaze and flames spreading into a nearby tree.
Deputy fire marshals responded to conduct an origin and cause investigation. Galaska stated that the fire originated in the mulch adjacent to the home and was ruled accidental. Investigators determined the blaze resulted from the natural spontaneous combustion of the mulch material.
The fire spread rapidly and ultimately damaged three other nearby single-family dwellings. Emergency responders were able to contain the fire, and no injuries were reported among residents or fire personnel.
Galaska reported that the total estimated damage from the incident is approximately $1,000,000.