News

At 9:51 p.m. on Friday, May 29, the Millville, Bethany Beach and Roxana Volunteer Fire Companies were dispatched along with the Sussex County Paramedics to a structure fire at the 200 block of Oyster Shell Cove in The Salt Pond. The responders arrived to a two-story home with smoke coming from the dwelling. Millville’s Truck Captain Eric Huovinen led the first crew into the building with a 1¾-inch compressed air foam line to knock the fire down and contain it to the back area of the garage and entryway into the house. An additional crew checked the remainder of the house for any fire extension. The occupants of the house were not home at the time of the fire. Bethany Beach 1st Assistant Chief Lucas Powell was in charge of Command. Additional positions assigned by Assistant Chief Powell were: Operations-Shawn Evans, Millville Chief; Accountability-Chris Magee, Roxana Captain; Staging-Tom Moore, Bethany Beach Captain; and Safety Officer-Harold Lloyd, Millville. The Sussex County EMS and the Roxana Special Rehab Unit provided the rehab station for the responders. Standby assistance during the alarm was provided by the Dagsboro, Selbyville, and Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Companies. Prior to this alarm, the area was under an extended thunderstorm with severe lightening. Neighbors reported a very sharp bolt of lightening that was accompanied by a loud clap of thunder had occurred prior to someone smelling and seeing smoke coming from the home. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office. Damage to the house was estimated at $40,000. “DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS PROUDLY SERVING OUR COMMUNITY”