News

Working Apartment Complex Fire

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

~On Tuesday, April 11th 2017 at 12:07pm, the Dover Fire Department, along with ALS, BLS, aviation and Station 41 (Camden) RIT were dispatched to a report of a working building fire with a burn victim at the Alder Park Apartments in South Dover. Due to Ladder 2 being OOS for annual inspection and Ladder 1 attempting to clear from a funeral detail, Chief Buck Carey requested an additional Ladder Co. from station 41 (Camden) to the scene due to receiving multiple calls reporting that the building was on fire. Chief Carey arrived on location within 4 minutes to find fire showing from the charlie side (rear) second floor of a 3 story apartment building with subjects being removed from a 3rd floor alpha side (front) window by construction workers. Also, a burn victim was being treated by ALS and BLS already on the scene. Engine 4 arrived on the scene seconds later under the direction of Captain Sean Byron. Upon their arrival, Captain Byron and crew were approached by Delaware State Troopers advising that the burn victim reported that there was still someone trapped in the burning apartment. The crew from Engine 4 stretched a supply line and also placed a 300 ft attack line into service. The crew from Engine 4 made an aggressive interior attack, knocking the bulk of the fire down and completing a primary search of the apartment, which had negative results. Engine 6, under the direction of Deputy Chief Ron Rhodes arrived second due, picking up the split lay from Engine 4. The crew of Engine 6, as well as additional crews from Rescue 41 (Camden), placed an additional hand line into service on the third floor, which had extension from the fire below. A search of the third floor also came back negative. Tower 41, which arrived as the first due ladder, was assigned to open up the roof and complete a secondary search. Additional arriving crews were assigned to assist with overhaul. Secondary searches came back negative. The burn victim was treated and transported by ground ALS to the local trauma center and aviation was cancelled. The status of that patient is unknown at this time. Once overhaul was completed, the scene was placed under control. Chief Carey terminated command and turned the scene over to the State Fire Marshal's office.