News

Structure Fire with a Fatality

On Saturday afternoon, 8 June 2024, at approximately 1241 hours, Millville Volunteer Fire Company was alerted for a Priority #1 Structure Fire in the 35000 Bethany Crest Lane in Bethany Crest subdivision.
Taking into consideration that there was a person reportedly trapped, Bethany Beach, Roxana, and Dagsboro Volunteer Fire Companies assisted.

In addition to these stations, Sussex County Paramedic Units 100, 105, and 109 were immediately dispatched. It was the crew of these paramedic units that had the grim task of working feverishly to revive the fatality of the injured patient and notify the next of kin of the injury severity of the other home occupant. In addition, the family pet did not survive.

The first arriving units, Fire Chief Walter Johnson and Fire-Police Greg Tietmeyer entered the smokey dwelling without any breathing apparatus in place and pulled the victim to the outside prior to the arrival of any suppression units.

Reviewing the pictures will provide a much better account of what occurred than what I can write.

A contingent of Fire-Police was on site diverting the traffic. This incident was in close proximity to Hocker’s Grocery Store. Traffic was very heavy since it was on Atlantic Avenue and beach traffic was in full bloom!

Sussex County Paramedics, Gabi Evens, Charles Tannermann, Alejandro Zambrano, and Matt Farlow. If you notice one of the pictures depicts these paramedics to the rear of the ambulance conducting a debriefing session after the individual was pronounced.

Fire Marshall Woody McGee (FM-16) responded along with Delaware State Police to conduct an in-depth investigation.

Fire Chief Walter Johnson has requested I personally acknowledge all the allied fire agencies and support personnel that responded and worked so hard to extinguish the fire. These men and women were noticeably hot today wearing their fire gear. They found some relief under the shade during the overhaul sessions.

Our Fire-Police also suffered the elements while directing traffic today. I hope the motorists understood why you had to divert traffic.

All questions pertaining to the investigation should be directed to the Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Tony Petralia, PIO