Newark – Just before 1:00 Sunday morning, July 14, 2019, firefighters from Newark’s Aetna Hose, Hook, and Ladder along with crews from the Christiana Fire Company responded to 30 Chestnut Hill Plaza for reports an interior fire inside the Wendy’s.
While en route to the scene crews learned that there was a fire in the kitchen near the fryers.
Upon his arrival, Aetna’s Deputy Chief A.J. Schall reported smoke showing from the building and took command of the incident. As crews arrived on scene they entered the building and began an attack on the fire while simultaneously searching for possible victims. The primary search indicated that everyone was out of the building.
Within minutes of their arrival crews reported that the fire was being knocked down and conditions inside the building were improving.
Schall later reported that the fire had started in the fryer and extended through the ductwork to the roof.
Crews worked for just over 30 minutes on the fire before Schall placed the incident under control.
Newport’s Minquas Fire Company Squad 23 also responded to the scene and served as the Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) for this incident.
Additional crews from the Mill Creek and Cranston Heights Fire Companies, New Castle County Paramedics, Fire Police, and State Fire Marshals were dispatched for this incident as well.