Information Reprinted from Delaware 105.9

http://www.delaware1059.com/news/march-marked-by-string-of-fires-statewide/article_e367710e-348a-11e8-87e1-2f09a8678fca.html

Article by Mike Phillips Updated

In addition to dealing with the threats of four nor'easters, first responders in Delaware had to handle an anomaly of deadly and devastating fires across the state during the month of March.

Fire deaths occurred on March 18th in Millsboro and March 26th in Frederica, while a toddler and his grandmother died as the result of a house fire in Wilmington on Sunday, March 25th. The cause of all three remain under investigation.

The largest monetary loss was on the line between Dewey and Rehoboth Beaches when a wind driven middle-of-the-night blaze blew through two beachfront homes causing millions of dollars in damage.

 Fire investigators with both the state of Delaware and the city of Wilmington were called to no less than a dozen serious incidents ranging from pipe bombs to arson that have resulted in four deaths and caused millions of dollars in damage.

Most of the fires have occurred in the past two weeks.

Fire officials said there are no connections between call outs and that they were each separate and distinct, with the exception of two incidents at the same shopping complex on Kirkwood Highway near Prices Corner.

On Tuesday, March 20, 2018, two vehicles were damaged in the parking lot of the Alpha Shopping Center with an incendiary device, and then five days later a fire damaged the building's roof.

A two-alarm arson fire on March 23rd caused heavy damage to the Beaverbrook Plaza Shopping Center. A 58-year old man has been charged in connection with that incident.

An Elsmere man faces a variety of charges for setting off a pipe bomb on March 12th. 48-year old Mark Consiglio was arrested and more devices were discovered in his house.

The following is a list of some of the more serious incidents handled by fire investigators in Delaware during the month of March:

• March 12 - Pipe bomb set off in front of a home in Elsmere. 48-year old Mark Consiglio charged

• March 13 - Early morning blaze destroys two beachfront homes, damages others in Dewey Beach, causing $5 million damage - http://www.irvfc.com/gallery/detail/30451?ss=1

• March 17 - Resident displaced by fire at 2201 North Washington Street in Wilmington

• March 18 - One person dies from house trailer fire in Millsboro - http://www.irvfc.com/gallery/detail/30509?ss=1

• March 20 - Pencader Village house fire causes $200,000 in damage

• March 20 - Sprinkler system douses fire at Amazon in Middletown

• March 20 - Two vehicles damaged by incendiary device in parking lot of Alpha Shopping Center near Prices Corner

• March 21 - Bedroom fire on Maryland Ave. in Wilmington quickly contained

• March 23 - Arson fire causes $800,000 in damage at Beaverbrook Plaza Shopping Center. 58-year old Timothy McDowell charged.

• March 25 - Fire damages roof of Alpha Shopping Center near Prices Corner

• March 25 - House fire at 23rd Street & Concord Avenue in Wilmington kills 11-month old. 59-year old grandmother dies three days later

• March 26 - One person found dead inside a residential storage building fire in Frederica

• March 27 - Discarded smoking material blamed for fire that damaged three townhomes in Frenchtown Woods near Glasgow with damage at $400,000