Wednesday January, 29 2014 @ 19:25:40

Nature: Structure Fire

Address: 27098 John J Williams Hwy Millsboro, DE 19966

Working Structure Fire – Two Canines Rescued

On Wednesday evening, January 29th, the Indian River (80), Millsboro (83) and Lewes (82) fire companies as well as the Sussex County Paramedics and the local emergency medical services provider were alerted for a structure fire on John J. Williams Highway in the vicinity of Magenta Lane. This incident was reported to originate as a basement fire.

Emergency response units included Incident Command 80, Engine #80-1, and Rescue 80 from the Oak Orchard facility and Engine #80-3 from the Long Neck facility as well as the Delaware State Fire Police.

Incident Command arrived on-scene and identified a two-story residential structure with smoke showing from the rear and side of the residential structure as well as heavy smoke from the eaves of the structure. It was identified that the occupants of the structure were not at home at the time of the incident; however, there were two canines inside.

Emergency response crew assignments included incident mitigation with activation of three 1¾” fire suppression attack lines with one to the rear of the structure, one to the interior of the residential structure, and the third for rapid intervention, it needed. A water supply operation was established via large diameter hose (5") from a nearby hydrant at the Nanticoke Indian Center. Firefighting crews from Millsboro were assigned to coordinate interior primary and secondary searches as well as mitigation with thermal imaging cameras while Lewes firefighting crews were assigned to ladder the residential structure. All crews were assigned to assist with investigation, evaluation, suppression and overhaul.

The initial fire suppression crews implemented a primary search and were able to locate and free the canines.

The Delaware State Fire Police were ordered to close John J. Williams Highway between Layton Davis Road and Gull Point Road for the duration of the incident.  The Delaware Department of Transportation was requested to provide a sand truck as a result of the ice conditions surfacing from apparatus water supply operations.

There were no civilian or firefighter injuries.  To our knowledge the canines were in good shape after the incident.

The Delaware State Fire Marshall is investigating the origin of the fire.