Monday February, 2 2026 @ 23:03

Nature: Fire Alarm Sounding – Multi Residential Structure – Winthrop Court

Location: 35398 - 35392 Winthrop Ct Fairfield At Long Neck, DE 19966

On Monday, February 2nd, the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company was alerted for an automatic fire alarm (AFA) sounding within a multi-residential structure on Winthrop Court in the Fairfield development off Long Neck Road.  It was reported to be an AFA alarm based upon the sprinkler system is pouring water out and alarm in all units.

Emergency response units from Indian River included Engine 80 from the Long Neck facility and Tower 80 from the Oak Orchard facility.

Emergency response crews coordinated an exterior and interior evaluation of the structure.

It was reported that the alarm sounding incident was the direct result of sprinkler system water flow alarm associated with frozen pipes in one of the residential structures.  Water was evident from the end unit of the multi-residential structure, the sprinkler system was shut off and drained, the facility was placed on internal fire watch protocol, the utility service was shut off to the impacted residential unit and the sprinkler maintenance repair entity was notified to coordinate a corrective action response. The unit is considered uninhabitable until complete renovations and restorations are coordinated.

All emergency response units were authorized to return to their respective stations