Devastating apartment fire injures multiple people; nearly 40 displaced
BEAR, Del. - Dozens of people are without a home after a quick-moving fire at an apartment complex in New Castle County. The devastating fire displaced around 40 people and the damage estimate is more than $1 million.
A New Year’s Day fire fueled by high winds sent waves of black smoke through the Fox Run Apartment complex in Bear, Delaware, a place Alex Phipps called home these past two years.
He said, "I just hear this bang on the door, saying, "Fire! Everyone get out!’"
Phipps is one of nearly 40 people who are now displaced. He lives in a corner apartment and was allowed in briefly to grab his keys, phone and wallet.
"Like clothing, any kind of other food, medicine. None. Just what I’ve got on my back."
Chief Kevin Cowperthwait, of Christiana Fire, says it all started around 2:30 Wednesday afternoon. He says multiple people were injured and needed treatment for smoke inhalation. Two were sent Crozer-Chester Medical Center in critical condition.
6 people, 2 dogs hospitalized after huge fire in New Castle County apartment: officials
Six people, including two children, were hospitalized after a huge fire inside an apartment building in New Castle County, while 36 others were displaced.
"Evidently, the gentleman rescued his family from the apartment and that’s why he was in such dire conditions when we arrived," Chief Cowperthwait said.
The chief says firefighters and police also rescued multiple dogs from the building. Phillps commented, "I think the most traumatizing thing about it was hearing the dogs. The dogs just screaming."
Diane Lewis lives in a neighboring building and captured video of firefighters in action, including one dog carried out to safety. "When I saw them bringing the one dog out, my heart just sunk. It makes you think because how fast it went up, within five minutes. It was fully involved."
While the cause and origin of the fire is still under investigation, Chief Cowperthwait suspects it started on the third floor, where the damage is most evident. He says the conditions made it very challenging, but thankfully there were no firefighter injuries. "We came out of the building because it was so dangerous, because the wind was blowing the fire at such an intense velocity, and then we recouped after we knocked it down from the outside a little bit and went back in and extinguished the fire."
The Red Cross of Delmarva is supporting fire victims and Phipps says for now he’s staying nearby at his brother’s. "I hope it gets better, otherwise, it’s just going to be a rough year," he added.
Lewis said, "Material things are replaceable, but at least nobody lost their life."