Early Sunday morning at approximately 3:15 the Aetna Hose, Hook & Ladder Fire Company along with mutual aid from several area fire companies were dispatched to the 400 block of Tree of Heaven Way in Chestnut Hill Preserve for a residential structure fire.
While en route crews learned that callers were reporting that several homes under construction in the new subdivision were on fire.
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Upon his arrival, the on-scene commander, Aetna’s Deputy Chief A.J. Schall reported a significant fire with one house collapsed and two others on set ablaze.
Due to the collapse of the first home, crews used a deck gun mounted on the apparatus to put water on that structure. Crews simultaneously initiated an aggressive interior attack on the other two homes.
Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control after approximately 45 minutes. Once the bulk of the fire was knocked down crews remained on scene and worked to open walls and ceilings looking for hotspots.
The heat from the blaze was so intense that it melted the siding on residences across the street, said Aetna Deputy Chief Jeff Sands.
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These residences were not equipped with fire sprinklers. Fortunately, there were no civilian or fire service injuries, said Sands.
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The Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.
West Grove Fire Company and Port Penn Fire Company providing standby coverage to the area during the incident.
Mutual Aid Companies included Christiana Fire, Minquas of Newport Vol. Fire Co., Mill Creek Fire Company – Stations 2&21, Cranston Heights Fire Company, Elsmere Fire Company No.1, Five Points Fire Company, Wilmington Manor Fire Company, Delaware City Volunteer Fire Company, No. 1, Inc., Station 15.
New Castle County Paramedics also respond to standby by the fire scene.
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