A fire incident that occurred at the McDonald’s restaurant on Concord Pike in Wilmington this morning has been ruled accidental according to Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office Chief Deputy Robert Fox.
The Talleyville Fire Company received notification of the fire shortly after 9:00 AM. Crews that arrived at the scene were met with heavy smoke and flames coming from the building. Mutual aid from various fire departments in Northern New Castle County and Delaware County also responded to assist.
Deputy Fire Marshals were dispatched to the site to investigate the origin and cause of the fire. Their investigation showed that the fire originated in a heating unit on the roof of the McDonald’s building. The cause of the fire is attributed to an unknown electrical or mechanical malfunction within this unit said Fox.
During the emergency response, New Castle County Paramedics attended to two individuals suffering from smoke inhalation. A 30-year-old female was transported to Christiana Care Hospital in Wilmington in stable condition, and a 25-year-old male was evaluated but declined further medical treatment.
The damage to the property is substantial, with estimates reaching approximately one million dollars. It was also noted that the building did not have sprinkler systems installed.
The incident has led to the closure of Concord Pike in the affected area for much of the day.
