Monday December, 13 2010 @ 10:25:22 Nature: Structure Fire Address: 20801 - 20823 Coastal Hwy Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 Indian River Volunteer Fire Company was alerted to provide fire station stand-by coverage for the Rehoboth Beach Fire Company (Station #86) while they mitigated a working structure fire with fatality on Coastal Highway near Anna B. Street. Additional information may be obtained at the following websites: (1) News Journal – www.newsjournal.com BY DAN SHORTRIDGE • THE NEWS JOURNAL • DECEMBER 13, 2010 Fatal fire near Rehoboth Beach One person died this morning in an apartment fire along Del. 1 near Rehoboth Beach. The fire broke out about 10:30 a.m. at Del. 1 (Coastal Highway) and Anna B. Street. Fire investigators have not yet released the name of the victim. A neighbor said the apartment was the residence of Chris Franklin, believed to be in his 50s. Neighbor Larry Beach said Franklin was suffering from terminal cancer and had retired a few years ago as manager of the Quality Inn in Dewey Beach. Assistant State Fire Marshal Richard Ward, who is investigating the blaze, said the fire was reported at 10:15 a.m. He confirmed it was a fatality but did not say if Franklin was the victim. Ward said the fire was confined to a second-floor apartment on the east end of the two-story building, directly above the Treasure House Antiques business. He said there was some minor water damage to the rest of the building, which also houses the Beitzel Cabinet and Millwork business. (2) WGMD Radio 92.7 – www.wgmd.com UPDATE: WGMD on the scene report regarding structure fire in Dewey Beach A structure fire has occurred at Beitzel’s Cabinet & Millworks on Coastal Highway in Dewey Beach. The blaze broke out just before 10:30 this morning. Fire companies from Lewes, Rehoboth Beach and Indian River responded to extinguish the fire. There was a report of one person in the home who was bedridden. Delaware Fire Police were directing traffic on Coastal Highway. The Delaware Fire Marshal and the State Police are investigating. WGMD will have more information as it becomes available.