Monday November, 4 2024 @ 07:59

Nature: UTV / ATV Requested – Vegetation / Woods Fire

Location: Tent City (77)

Address:  Douglas St Georgetown, DE 19947

On Monday, November 4^th, the Indian River (80), Ellendale (75), Millsboro (83), Bridgeville (72), Greenwood (78), Laurel (81), Milton (85), Blades (71), Dagsboro (73), and Seaford (87) fire companies were alerted to assist the Georgetown (77) Fire Company with a woods fire near Tent City off Douglas Street or Coach & Lantern Lanes off North Bedford Street.  Additional resources were requested from the Delaware State Police Aviation Unit (Trooper 2), the Delaware State Forestry Services (bulldozer, ATV, forestry units), Georgetown American Legion Ambulance (93), the Delaware State Fire Marshal, and the Sussex County Emergency Operations Center Drone. 

Emergency response units from Indian River included Utility 80-11 and 80 UTV 2 from the Oak Orchard facility.

Emergency response crew assignments included responding to the designated staging area North Bedford Street and deploy via Lantern and Coach Lanes; running parallel to the railroad tracks until reaching a cross-over; crossing over and accessing the wooded area to assist with fire suppression activities including rakes and forestry hose, water shuttle from the designated filling point back to the fire scene; making access via bulldozer for brush truck access; and other tasks as needed.

The Conrail Railroad Service was contacted to facilitate the cessation of the train during the incident mitigation phase of the alarm.

This incident was in a wooded section along the railroad tracks known as Tent City who many unhoused persons reside in tents and other scenarios.

The Delaware State Fire Marshall is investigating.

The Delaware State Forestry Services remained at the incident location performing other suppression tactics.

Additional information may be obtained by viewing the following websites:

(1)  WBOC TV News - https://www.wboc.com/news/fire-departments-battle-multiple-brush-fires-near-georgetown-as-dry-conditions-continue-across-delmarva/article_07d27604-9b01-11ef-9041-bb7a9ff35cfc.html.