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Fire at Shrimpy’s Pub under investigation

May 1, 2021

Story Location:
Henlopen Junction
37385 Rehoboth Avenue Ext.
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
United States

An early morning fire at Shrimpy’s Pub on Rehoboth Avenue Extended is under investigation.

Firefighters with the Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company arrived on the scene about 2 a.m. May 1 as flames were coming out of the building that sits in the 37000 block of Rehoboth Avenue Extended, said Michael Chionchio, assistant state fire marshal.

The fire caused heavy damage estimated at $500,000, said Chionchio.

Warren Jones, Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Department spokesman, said in addition to Shrimpy’s, the fire heavily damaged China Wok Restaurant and JuiceFresh. Several other stores received smoke damage, he said, in a press release.

Jones said the fire was under control after a couple of hours and company units remained on the scene until approximately 8 a.m. There were no injuries, he said.

An unidentified man, who said he lived in the building behind the fire, was walking his dog around 9:30 a.m. It was crazy out here last night, and it was loud, he said, adding that the people in his building got lucky because the area’s strong overnight winds were blowing in the other direction.

“It’s an old wood building. I know it would have caught fire,” said the man.

Jones said Rehoboth was assisted on the initial alarm by Lewes Fire Department and the Indian River Volunteer Company.  Subsequent alarms brought Milton Fire Company, Bethany Beach Fire Company, Memorial Fire Company of Slaughter Beach and Georgetown Fire Company to the scene.  Millville, Millsboro, and Ellendale Volunteer Fire Companies covered the area for the committed fire companies, he said.

Also assisting on the scene were Rehoboth Beach Fire Company EMS, Sussex County EMS, Mid-Sussex Rescue Squad, Rehoboth Beach PD and numerous volunteer fire company fire police, said Jones.

Investigators with the Delaware Office of the State Fire Marshal are currently on the scene searching for the fire’s origin and cause, Chionchio said.

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