Sunday October, 16 2016 @ 04:48

Nature: Structure Fire

Location: On The Curve

Address:  25808-26183 Autumn Rd Millsboro, DE 19966

On Sunday, October 16th, the Indian River (80), Millsboro (83), Lewes (82), and Rehoboth Beach (86) fire companies were alerted for a working residential structure on Autumn Road in the vicinity of Branch Road. It was reported to be fully involved.  Additional fire companies were alerted to provide stand-by or cover up assignments for the working companies.  The Milton (85) fire company provided assistance to Indian River's Long Neck Station.

Emergency response units from Indian River included Tanker 80 from the Oak Orchard facility as well as Engine #80-1 and #80-3 from the Long Neck facility. Additional resources from the Sussex County Paramedics, the Delaware Electric Co-op, Delaware State Fire Police, the Delaware State Fire Marshall, the Office of the State Medical Examiner, and the local emergency medical service provider.

Emergency response crew assignments were to initiate an immediate fire suppression attack as well as protecting nearby exposures, to establish a water supply, and to coordinate mitigation activities in order to suppress the fire and preserve the scene pending arrival of the Major Incident Response Team from the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

It appears that a manufactured home with front and rear additions was fully involved upon arrival of the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company. All other responding companies assisted with the suppression activities and were cognizant of fallen live electrical wires.

The Delaware State Fire Police coordinated the traffic during the periods of time that Autumn Road was closed to thru traffic.

The Delaware State Fire Marshal is investigating.

Attached herewith is a video link from the fire ground operations:  https://www.facebook.com/hcollinsdonaway/videos/10210758476747790/

Additional information will be published when available.

UPDATED INFORMATION - October 16, 2016

http://www.delaware1059.com/story/27894-one-person-killed-in-long-neck-trailer-home-fire

One person is dead in a house trailer fire in the 26,000-block of Autumn Road in Long Neck.

The Delaware State Fire Marshal's Office says arriving firefighters encountered flames engulfing the structure shortly before 5:00 a.m. Sunday. The victim was found dead inside the trailer. That person's identity is not yet being released.

An autopsy is planned for Monday.

Two other house trailers on each side were damaged on the outside.

No one was in either of those structures, and no other injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Damage to the trailer home that caught fire is estimated at $50,000.

Cape Gazette News - http://www.capegazette.com/article/one-killed-long-neck-trailer-fire/118231

UPDATED: October 17, 2016

http://www.wboc.com/story/33409792/grandmother-killed-in-long-neck-fire 

Grandmother Killed in Long Neck Fire, Family Members Say

Posted: Oct 17, 2016 4:24 PM EDT

Updated: Oct 17, 2016 5:02 PM EDT

By Madeleine Overturf

LONG NECK, Del. - A family is grieving after their loved one was killed in a fire early Sunday morning. Family members say 57-year-old Joyce Clough was sleeping on her couch when her mobile home on Autumn Road near Route 24 caught on fire. Clough was a mother of three and grandmother of two.

"She was amazing, kind-hearted. She's always been there for me," said her daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Callahan. "I was 17 when I became a part of the family and she's always been my mother."

Niece Brandy Wyatt echoed Callahan's thoughts. "She was a family woman. She was very lovable," said Wyatt.

"She was all about her family and her grandkids."

The Delaware State Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the fire. According to them, the fire was reported shortly before 5:00 a.m. on Sunday morning. The Indian River Volunteer Fire Department's n web page (http://www.irvfc.com/gallery/detail?id=23197) says over four companies responded to the fire. The State Fire Marshal's office is investigating the fire's origin and cause, though Clough's family say a space heater may be the cause. Wyatt says her aunt's death is incomprehensible.

"How did it get like this so fast?" she asked, gesturing to the scene of the fire. "Did nobody hear her scream?"

Clough's family has started a GoFundMe page in the hopes of raising $3,000 to pay for funeral expenses. Regardless of the funds, Callahan says Clough will be remembered.

"We'll definitely do something to celebrate this life," she said. "She was amazing."

The Fire Marshal's office says the fire also damaged two adjacent mobile homes, but no one was inside them at the time. They say the fire caused over $50,000 in damages.