CAMDEN — Firefighters worked for more than an hour to bring a residential blaze under control early Tuesday, a fire company spokesman said.
According to Camden-Wyoming Fire Co. Assistant Chief Michael Moriarty, units arrived at the home in the 200 block of Steeles Ridge Road and found heavy fire showing from the rear of the structure and beginning to extend from the attic.
Firefighters immediately entered the front door with two hand lines in an “aggressive” attempt to suppress the blaze, he said. A third hand line was used on the second floor to access the attic.
Firefighters conducted a search of the home and found that all residents had been evacuated, said Assistant Chief Moriarty, who was in command of the response. No injuries were reported.
An investigation determined that “the fire originated on the home’s rear exterior deck, when discarded fireplace ashes ignited household items on the deck, engulfing the exterior of the occupied dwelling,” Assistant State Fire Marshal Michael Chionchio said.
Fire damage was estimated at $500,000, and a family of four was displaced, according to Mr. Chionchio.
The fire company received the call at 3:13 a.m. and cleared the scene at approximately 5:30 a.m. after extensive overhaul operations, the assistant chief said.
Other responding fire companies came from Felton, Magnolia, Marydel, Hartly and Goldsboro, Maryland, and Kent County emergency medical service arrived at the scene, as well.
The Delaware State Fire Marshal is investigating the incident.