Emergency Dial 9-1-1
On Saturday just after 1400hrs the Dover Fire Communications received a call for an electrical hazard in the Grande Apartment Complex on the Westside of the City. The Duty Officer and Engine 1 responded and found on arrival a primary electric transformer had collapsed into the base with no active fire. Buildings 100,200,300, had intermittent power loss and complete loss of power in building 400. City of Dover, Delaware - Electric Department was requested and the scene was turned over to the line crew when they arrived. At 1700hrs the City of Dover Systems Ops requested the DFD Duty Officer and the City Fire Marshals Office to respond with a concern of life safety for the residents due to the extended duration in restoring power. The DO and FMO responded and assessed the situation noting the fire alarm and sprinkler system were affected by the loss of power in building 400. The city restored power on the primary side of the transformer supplying buildings 100, 200 and 300 but the secondary side that supplied building 400 was awaiting an electrician from the complex which was due to arrive 0900hrs Sunday. Due to the life safety concerns of the fire alarm and sprinkler system be affected the FMO condemned building 400. 48 units and 75 residents, some with medical and mobility issues needed to be evacuated and relocated. Additional resources were requested from the DFD, FMO, Saint Francis EMS and the City of Dover, Delaware - City Hall Emergency Management. Squad 1, Ladder 2, an additional Chief, STFEMS Shift Supervisor, MCI 2 and additional units from their Wilmington Division responded. Unified Command was established consisting of DFD, STFEMS, FMO and EM. Task force of Firemen and EMTs were assigned divisions and apartments to evacuate the residents. 75 residents were removed from building 400 in just over 1 hour and relocated to local hotels or with family/friends. The apartments were confirmed to be empty and units were made available. The City of Dover FMO and Emergency Management continued to assist the residents through the night and into Sunday morning. Additional assistance was provided by DEMA and the Red Cross. At the time of this post building 400 was still condemned. Resources On Scene: Dover Fire Dover 22 - Incident Command Dover 19 - Operations Squad 1, Ladder 2 City of Dover FM 1, FM 3, FM4 Emergency Management Coordinator City of Dover Electric Saint Francis EMS PA 101, PA 116, PA 300 (bus) D63, E63, MCI 2
