Fire destroys home in Dewey Beach
Three firefighters were injured while battling a blaze Oct. 13 in Dewey Beach that caused $1 million in damage, officials say.
A Dewey Beach police officer on patrol smelled smoke about 3 a.m. in the first block of Carolina Street, police said. About the same time, the Dewey Beach Communications Center received a call reporting a possible fire at the location.
Responding officers and firefighters with the Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company and other companies found a single-family home with flames coming from the second floor, police said, and within moments, the structure was fully engulfed in flames.
Strong northeast winds, driven by the active coastal storm, contributed to the rapid spread of the fire and complicated suppression efforts, officials said.
About 4 a.m., the fire was brought under control. No one was in the home that was destroyed; several neighboring homes sustained damage as a result of the intense heat and wind conditions. Chief Deputy John Galaska of the Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office estimated damage at $1 million. The cause and origin of the fire remain under investigation.
Three firefighters were treated for minor injuries, officials said. Two were transported to Beebe Healthcare where they were treated and released.
