Three apartment fires and one house fire displaced more than 30 people during the Thanksgiving weekend and left one person dead and another in critical condition.
The first blaze, reported shortly after 7 a.m., on Thanksgiving occurred at the Cavalier Country Club Apartments. The Christiana Fire Company arrived at the unit block of Golfview Drive and found smoke pouring from an apartment on the second floor of the three-story building.
A deputy state Fire Marshal determined the fire started inside a second-floor apartment when a burning candle ignited clothing and other household items inside a hallway walk-in closet. The flames were confined to the apartment, but the smoke made its way throughout the building.
Fire damage was estimated at $100,000. There were no reported injuries. Six units were damaged, and 20 people, including four children, were displaced. Tenants have sought shelter with relatives. No injuries were listed.
The Delaware State Fire Marshal’s office is also investigating a fire in Claymont on Thursday that damaged an apartment building.
The Claymont Fire Company was called to the 1400 block of Philadelphia Pike at Silverside Road shortly before 10:45 a.m. Firefighters found smoke coming from the second floor. One occupant was assisted. No injuries were reported.
Deputy fire marshals are conducting the criminal arson investigation with evidence pointing to an individual intentionally igniting items located in the hallway separating four apartments. The fire caused extensive damage to the foyer and staircase. Fire damage was estimated at $50,000. The building contains four units. with 10 people displaced.
The Delaware State Fire Marshal’s office is investigating a Sunday morning fire near Wilmington that took the life of one person.
The blaze, reported shortly before 2:00 am, occurred on the 300 block of Mary Street in the Richardson Park area near Maryland Avenue. The Five Points Fire Company responded to a 9-1-1 report of an apartment building fire. Firefighters found flames shooting from the two-story building. Elsmere Police Department officers arrived and assisted with the rescue of one male subject trapped inside the first-floor apartment.
The structure is a two-story apartment building with two units. Two occupants on the second floor escaped unhurt. The American Red Cross is assisting.
A 49-year-old man was taken from the burning apartment by police officers and firefighters. He was transported to the Christiana Hospital in critical condition suffering from burns and smoke inhalation. He later died. Fire damage was estimated at $200,000 with the blaze remaining under investigation.
On Saturday afternoon, one person was found dead in a fire in Hartly, Kent County
The Hartly Volunteer Fire Company was dispatched to the 800 block of Britney Lane near Halltown Road shortly before 3 p.m. for a house fire. Firefighters arrived on the scene with smoke pouring from the one-story home. A 66-year-old man was found dead.
The fire’s cause remains under investigation. Fire damage was estimated at $50,000.
Anyone with information concerning the arson fire listed above is asked to contact the State Fire Marshal’s New Castle Division at (302) 323-5375, email: Fire.Marshal@delaware.gov, or contact Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333.
