The reward is now $20,000 for anyone who can provide information leading to an arrest and conviction of those responsible for the April 23 fire that destroyed the Lighthouse Restaurant in Dewey.

The Lighthouse Cove Development Company announced May 28 that it has doubled the reward from $10,000 to $20,000 to encourage witnesses to report any information on the blaze, which was determined to be arson by the Delaware State Fire Marshal’s office. 

“We would like to thank the Delaware Fire Marshal and Dewey Beach Police for all of their efforts in the ongoing arson investigation at the Lighthouse Restaurant,” said E. Thomas Harvey, III, president of Lighthouse Cove Development Company. “The arson at the Lighthouse Restaurant wasn’t just an attack on Lighthouse Cove, but an attack on the greater Dewey community, and we are determined to identify and bring justice to the responsible parties. We appreciate the community-wide support we have received and hope we can continue working together to keep Dewey Beach safe.” 

The Lighthouse Restaurant was under construction at the time of the fire, and was expected to open in summer 2020. Due to the extensive damage caused by the fire, the Lighthouse Restaurant and lighthouse structure were deemed structurally unsafe and are being demolished. 

“We have increased the reward to $20,000 to encourage anyone who witnessed the act to come forward, whether or not they have any association with those responsible,” said Thomas J. Hanna, president of Harvey Hanna & Associates, the company that is overseeing the redevelopment. “Dewey Beach is a special place and by working together, we are confident we can bring to full light the details of this senseless act.”

Anyone with information on the fire is asked to call the Delaware Fire Marshal at 302-856-5600, Delaware Crime Stoppers’ anonymous tip line at 800-TIP-3333; or Harvey, Hanna & Associates at 302-323-9300, Ext. 112.