Saturday March, 1 2014 @ 13:28:12

Nature: Structure Fire

Location: Easton Memorial (a/k/a Bennie Smith Funeral Home)

Address: 219 S Washington St., Millsboro, DE 19966

On Saturday afternoon, March 1st, the Indian River (80) and Georgetown (77) were alerted to assist the Millsboro (83) fire company with a working structure fire on Washington Street in Millsboro. It was reported to have heavy black smoke coming from the second floor rear porch area of the structure.

Emergency response units from Indian River included Engine #80-1 and Rescue 80 from the Oak Orchard facility and Engine #80-5 from the Long Neck facility as well as the Delaware State Fire Police.

Emergency response crew assignments included to assist with water supply operations at the hydrant for Ladder 83, supply manpower resources to rear of the structure to assist with fire suppression activities and ladder was required to supply Ladder 77 with water resources. Rescue 80 was responsible for air bottle replenishment.

The Delaware State Fire Police were requested to close all traffic patterns on Washington Street as a result of the incident and the requirement to access fire hydrants along Main Street.

The structure was a combination of a commercial funeral home entity as well as residential housing units with a balloon type construction which allowed for the fire to become embedded within the floor joint, walls, and attic areas causing significant damage to the second floor and attic areas. Much of the fire suppression strategies included engine company operations, ladder truck operations with ventilation and suppression being paramount to extinguishment. The Millsboro (83) fire company was able to utilize their CAFS (compressed air foam system) to deliver a fire retardant foam to assist with fire suppression.

Additional incident response from Dagsboro (73), Gumboro (79), and Roxana (90) were requested to assist with fire ground operations.

The Delaware State Fire Marshall is investigating.

Other fire company related information may be view at the following website:

Millsboro (83) Volunteer Fire Company - http://www.millsborofire.com/gallery/detail?id=313

Additional information may be viewed at the following web sites:

(1) WGMD Radio 92.7  www.wgmd.com

http://wgmd.com/common/more.php?m=49&action=blog&r=51&post_id=94141

BREAKING: Route 24 Closed for Fire at Bennie Smith Funeral Home in Millsboro

Mar 01, 2014 -- 1:53pm

Millsboro firefighters are on the scene of a fire at the Bennie Smith Funeral Home on Washington Street in Millsboro. Washington Street/Route 24 is closed from the Rite Aid Pharmacy to West Monroe Street. There are reports of heavy fire coming from the second floor of the building.

(2) WBOC TV

http://www.wboc.com/story/24860479/historic-millsboro-home-goes-up-in-flames

MILLSBORO, Del. - A historic home in Sussex County goes up in flames.

It happened after 1 p.m. at Bennie Smith's Funeral Home along Washington Street in Millsboro.

Firefighters arrived to find smoke billowing into the air. Crews had to break windows in order for the remainder of the smoke to exit the home.

The owner tells WBOC that a woman lived in an apartment on the second floor. She got out of the home safely.

About 60 firefighters from six different companies were on the scene.

Millsboro's fire chief, Matt Warrington, says the fire started on the same floor as this apartment.

"It was a fire on the second floor of the funeral home that extended into the attic and the basement. It's an older balloon construction-style building which makes it hard to find and put out the fire," said Matt Warrington, Chief, Millsboro Fire Company.

Warrington says there was no evidence of bodies waiting to be cremated or being prepped for burial found inside the home.

Warrington says the cause of the fire is unknown. The fire marshal's office is conducting an investigation.

According to Warrington, the home was built in the late 1800's and is listed on the National Historic Register.

(3) Delaware 105.9 FM Radio – www.delaware1059.com

http://www.delaware1059.com/story.php?id=7444

Millsboro Funeral Home Fire

By Walt Barcus

The Delaware State Fire Marshall’s office is investigating a Saturday afternoon fire in Millsboro that heavily damaged a three story structure operating as Bennie Smith Funeral Home.

The blaze occurred in the 200 block of S. Washington Street and was reported at 1:25 PM. The Millsboro Volunteer Fire Company, assisted by Georgetown, Indian River and Dagsboro fire companies extinguished the flames.

There were no reported injuries.

State fire investigators are working to determine the origin and cause of the fire.

Damage was estimated at $350,000.  

(4) Millsboro Volunteer Fire Company Website - http://www.millsborofire.com/gallery/detail?id=313 

 (5) Other ancillary announcements...

 State of Delmarva - http://stateofdelmarva.com/story/2014-03-01/fire_at_bennie_smith_funeral_home_in_millsboro.html

Delaware Online - http://stateofdelmarva.com/story/2014-03-01/fire_at_bennie_smith_funeral_home_in_millsboro.html

The Washington Post - http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/fire-damages-funeral-home-in-millsboro-del/2014/03/02/8fa5433e-a258-11e3-b865-38b254d92063_story.html

WMDT TV - http://www.wmdt.com/story/24863310/millsboro-bennie-smith-funeral-home