News

First Due Apartment Building Fire

Tuesday, March 2, 2021

On Wednesday February 3, 2021 at 1429hrs the Dover Fire Department was dispatched for an apartment on fire in the 800 block of Woodcrest Dr. in the City’s Woodcrest development. At the time of dispatch Dover Fire Communications received several calls reporting visible fire and immediately upgraded the call to a working fire bringing additional units from the county.
Squad 1 with six members responded at 1431hrs. Chief Carey arrived on scene at 1433 to find a two story apartment building with heavy fire on the first floor. Chief Carey established Woodcrest Command and spotted a hydrant for Squad 1. Squad 1 arrived at 1434 assuming the first due Engine assignment. A water supply was established at a nearby hydrant and the crew stretched a 1.3/4” Hand Line for fire attack. The crew made entry into the stairwell and into the fire apartment dealing with opposing doors and clutter within the apartment.
Ladder 2 arrived assuming first due Special Service beaching the apparatus on the Alpha side. Ladder 2s crew split laddering the second floor on the Alpha and Bravo sides. The balance of the crew went inside and preformed a primary search on the fire floor finding two dogs who had perished.
Squad 41 arrived as the second due engine establishing a second water supply laying into the scene. Squad 41 stretched a second 1.3/4” hand line from Squad 1 backing up the first line.
Squad 2 arrived and was assigned and preformed the the primary search on the second floor with negative results.
Dover Ladder 1, Engine 3, Engine 4, Engine 41 Ladder 43 and Engine 43, assisted with fire ground operations. Kent County ALS, BLS 41 and BLS 53 provided EMS standby at the fire scene.
Engine 513 and Squad 54 covered the city until units cleared.
The fire was placed under control at 1505hrs and is being investigating by the City of Dover Fire Marshals office.

Photos curtesy of Mike Steindl