Wednesday March, 28 2012 @ 18:54:48

Nature: Outside Fire / Nature Unknown

Location: Asphalt Plant

Address: 22345 Josephs Rd Georgetown, DE 19947

On Wednesday evening, March 28th, the Indian River was requested for a Tanker Assist for an outside fire / nature unknown within Georgetown’s fire district. The Georgetown Fire Company (77) was initially alerted for an outside fire with the nature unknown but numerous calls indicated significant heavy, black smoke.

Additional information from the Sussex County Emergency Operations Center indicated that the incident may be at the asphalt plant and advised Georgetown of the information.

Georgetown’s Officer In Charge (OIC) requested that the foam trailer respond because of additional concerns as well as requesting the Millsboro Fire Company (83) for a tanker and engine assist. Shortly therefore, Indian River (80) was alerted for a tanker and engine assist.

Initial fire responders identified that this was in fact at the asphalt plant involving what appears to be a skid loader, a large tank car with asphalt, and a large tank car with diesel fuel with heavy fire and smoke showing.

The Indian River Volunteer Fire Company was nearby due to a scheduled training evolution at the Delaware State Fire School’s (DSFS) Georgetown campus and was able to respond with the following apparatus: Engine #80-2; Engine #80-3; Ladder 80; and Rescue 80.

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources (DNREC) was requested to respond to the incident as was the Delaware State Fire Marshal.

The origin of the incident is under investigation; however, firefighters were able to identify that skid loader suffered significant fire damage and the tanks were not substantially impacted.

The Delaware State Fire Marshal is investigating.

Additional information may be viewed at the following websites:

(1)  Georgetown Fire Company -  http://www.georgetown77.com/gallery.cfm?id=721  http://www.georgetown77.com/gallery.cfm?id=721