The Delaware Office of the State Fire Marshal has determined that this morning’s house fire in Newark, Delaware was accidental.
The blaze, reported around 11:30 am, occurred in the unit block of North Wynwyd Drive – Woodmere. The Aetna Hose, Hook and Ladder Company arrived on the scene with flames shooting from the 1st floor.
State fire investigators were called to the scene to investigate the origin and cause of the fire. The fire began inside the kitchen. Items on top of the stove were accidentally ignited when those items came into contact with the burner on the stove.
Heavy fire damage was estimated at $250,000. There were no reported injuries. Smoke alarms inside the house operated.
Original Story
Newark – Just before 11:30 this morning firefighters from Aetna Hose, Hook, and Ladder with mutual aid from the Christiana, Mill Creek, and Hockessin Fire Companies, responded to the unit block of N Wynwyd Drive in Newark for a residential structure fire.
Shortly after his arrival, Aetna Hose, Hook, and Ladder Chief Andrew Bowerson reported that neighbors were telling crews that the residents were inside the home.
As crews searched the interior of the home Bowerson reported that an outside deck had collapsed and issued an alert to firefighter.
As the search continued, firefighters simultaneously attacked the fire, one firefighter reporting the second story bathroom floor had collapsed.
Minutes after reporting that the residents could not be located inside the home, Bowerson reported that all residents were accounted for.
The fire was brought under control at around 12:15 this afternoon. The Red Cross has been contacted to assist three adults that were displaced by the fire.
Fire marshals are on scene investigating the cause of the fire.
This story will be updated once the fire marshal’s investigation has been completed.