Sunday January, 21 2024 @ 06:38

Nature: Structure Fire

Location: McDonald’s (82)

Address:  18878 Coastal Hwy Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971

On Sunday morning, January 21^st, the Indian River (80), Rehoboth Beach (86), and Milton (85) fire companies were alerted to assist the Lewes (82) Fire Department with a commercial structure fire on Coastal Highway at the McDonald’s Restaurant.  It was reported as having smoke everywhere on the interior and light smoke showing from the exterior of the facility.  Additional emergency alerts included the Sussex County Paramedics.

Emergency response units from Indian River included Engine #80-3 from the Long Neck facility, Tower 80 from the Oak Orchard facility as well as the Delaware State Fire Police. Many mutual aid companies were requested to provide cover-up standby assignments which included alerts for Memorial (89), Millsboro (83), Ellendale (75), Georgetown (77), and Bethany Beach (70) fire departments.

Emergency response crews on the fire ground were assigned to ladder the facility on both sides, establish a water supply from nearby hydrants with large diameter hose (LDH), initiate a primary search of the interior facility, interior crews requested a crew to the roof to evaluate the HVAC units as efforts continued to identify HVAC areas of concern and discontinuation of utility services to the structure.  Crews initiated removal of ceiling tiles in order to access hard to evaluate areas and found multiple void spaces and layers of roof.

Representatives from the utility service provider and the State Health Department were notified for response to the incident location. 

During the midst of this incident, the Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company was alerted for another structure in the West Bay Park development off Camp Arrowhead Road.

The Delaware State Fire Police provided traffic control assistance with the limitation of non-emergency vehicles into the parking lot areas for the duration of the incident.

The Delaware State Fire Marshal was requested to respond to the incident location and is investigating.

Additional information will be provided upon availability from the primary response company.

There were no reported civilian or firefighter injuries.

Additional information may be viewed via the following links:

• Cape Gazette News - https://www.capegazette.com/article/smoke-damage-under-investigation-rehoboth-beach-area-mcdonald%E2%80%99s/270007

• WRDE News - https://www.wrde.com/news/route-one-mcdonalds-catches-fire/article_17f8e74e-b8d4-11ee-868a-ff2e7d9d14b9.html.