Friday August, 8 2025 @ 03:27

Nature: Automatic Fire Alarm – Flow Switch Activiation

Location: Dollar General (80)

Address:  26012 John J Williams Hwy Millsboro, DE 19966

Early Friday morning, August 8^th, the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company was alerted for an automatic fire alarm incident at the Dollar General Store on John J. Williams Highway.  It was reported to be a flow switch activation within the facility. 

Emergency response units from Indian River included Tower 80 from the Oak Orchard facility and Engine 80 from the Long Neck facility as well as the Delaware State Fire Police.

Emergency response crew assignments included an exterior and interior evaluation with initial observation of one story commercial structure, nothing evident from the exterior, utilities located on the charlie “C” side with an active water flow inside the structure.  The Knox Box keys would not access the building.  Efforts to reach the alarm company and designated responder was coordinated and the respective responder identified that no response would be forthcoming and attempting to locate someone.  Forcible entry was coordinated to gain access to the interior of the structure.

The interior evaluation yeilded no actual fire but water flow (sprinkler head) activation in the cooler area.  Efforts to discontinue the sprinkler activation and stop the waterflow were completed.  Additional efforts to identify the issues were coordinated. 

The Delaware State Fire Police assisted with access control for the duration of the icnident.

The facility management will be responsible for the restoration of forcible entry activities.