January
20, 2004
Wilmington, DE, firefighters
douse blaze
Pet die in fire
by Lieutenant Michael
R. Schaal
photo by T.J. Healy II
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In Wilmington, Delaware, on
Tuesday, Januarty 20 , the Wilmington Fire Department was dispatched to
a house fire at 213 West 20th Street.
The initial calls reported the fire in
the basement. Battalion Chief Michael Donohue, first on the scene responding
from Station 4, two blocks away, gave a report of heavy smoke showing from
the basement windows of a two story, masonry, twin, single family dwelling. |
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Within seconds, Battalion Chief Donohue
gave a second report of fire showing from Side 4 and extending to the first
floor. Donohue also requested Conectiv electric priority one, for an energized
power line down in the rear of the house.
The fire had burnt through the line attached
to the house. All the residents that were home at the time of the fire
escaped without injury, however one of the family pets, a Rotweiller puppy
perished. |
| Thirty firefighters took approximately
40 minutes to bring the fire under control. The fire gutted the basement
area, and burnt through the floor to the first floor dining room.
The rest of the house sustained heavy smoke
damage. The residence at 213 also sustained smoke damage.
There were no firefighters injured at this
alarm. The American Red Cross was requested to respond and assist the four
adults, two teenagers, and one child that were displaced due to the fire,
with lodging and necessities.
The cause and origin are under investigation
by the Wilmington Fire Department Fire Marshal’s Office. |
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