Twelve families are displaced and several dogs reportedly rescued in an early afternoon Apartment fire the state Fire Marshal’s Office says.
NEW CASTLE (DE) By DIGITAL STAFF: The Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating an early afternoon fire that displaced twelve families caused by an electrical malfunction in the attic of a New Castle apartment building.
The fire, which heavily damaged six apartments at the New Castle Crossing Apartments was reported just before 2:00 p.m. in the 1600 block of New Jersey Avenue in the Wilmington Manor community.
Wilmington Manor Fire Company arrived to flames shooting through the roof of the building. A request for assistance brought several other fire companies in to assist with the fire including New Castle County Paramedics.
A witness told Delaware Newsline that a kid was hanging from the second floor balcony and was rescued by a maintenance worker just before first responders arrived. Investigators confirmed that two children were examined by New Castle County Paramedics for injuries but did not require transport to a hospital.
Sadly, two dogs were rescued, one reportedly had serious injuries and was transported to a veterinary Emergency Room for further treatment.
“Animal Welfare Officers from the Office of Animal Welfare (OAW) were on scene and assisted two dogs.,” Said Sean Dooley, a spokesman with the Office of Animal Welfare. “One was returned uninjured to its owner while on scene and the other was transported to a veterinary hospital for care.”
Deputy State Fire Marshal’s arrived on the scene and located the origin of the fire and determined the fire was sparked by an electrical malfunction in the attic of the two-story apartment building.
The fire alarm system alerted residents of the fire who began evacuating. The heavily damaged building was estimated at $200,000.
