By Craig Anderson

LITTLE CREEK — A little less than 24 hours after a residential fire left two dead and three critically injured, neighbors were still reeling Monday.

The blaze occurred in the 300 block of Main Street just after noon Sunday, only a few feet from Leslie Drinks’ home.

“It shook me up because it hit so close to home,” she said. “I’m still a bit shaken up, and I feel so sorry for the family who lost so much.”

The Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office said two females, ages 9 and 42, died after transport to Bayhealth Hospital, Kent Campus in Dover on Sunday. Three other victims, who sustained smoke inhalation and burns, remained in critical condition Monday.

Damage to the home was estimated at $100,000, authorities said, while the cause is yet unknown.

Living on the other side of the burned residence, Ed Angwin said he is mourning those lost and the family members still in peril with their injuries.

“This is a small, tightknit community,” he said. “You may keep to yourself, but everybody still knows everybody, so it’s tough to see something like this happen.”

Little Creek Volunteer Fire Co. Chief Scott Bundek said Monday that he was checking on any responding firefighters who may have been distressed during the incident. His station is almost directly across the street from the house that caught fire.

Approximately 70 firefighters arrived at the scene Sunday, he said, coming from Dover, Leipsic, Magnolia, Camden-Wyoming and Dover Air Force Base. Kent County paramedics, St. Francis Healthcare Emergency Medical Services, the Delaware State Police Aviation Section and Dover police also responded.

“It’s very tough on the (Little Creek) guys when they see the people everyday,” he said. “Not that the crew or everybody at the fire department may know who live there, but it’s human nature (that) when you pass by, you might give somebody a little wave and notice kids or children going out of the house and things like that.

“So ... a lot of times, guys and gals will think in their heads, ‘You know, what could have been done differently to change the outcome?’”

In addition to phone calls and in-person meetings with those who were “visibly upset,” Chief Bundek said, “The second part is making sure everyone knows that they have the resources to talk with someone if they wish so.”

He said fire crews usually analyze these situations shortly after they occur.

“The rehashing of the event, looking at it over and over, that tends to be what firemen do in trying to get better. But at the end of the day, I think everyone would agree that maximum effort was given by everybody, and there would have been no path forward based on the conditions they were facing.”

From across the street Monday, neighbor Clay Crommett described the experience as “unnerving.”

He said Little Creek firefighters “knocked the fire down quickly,” adding that, “At one point, I started freaking out because I realized how close it was to my house. So I went inside and made my wife aware that something bad was going on.”

Mr. Crommett said he banged on a neighbor’s door, as well, but no one was home.

Ms. Drinks said she arrived in town after the blaze began. “A lot of people were standing across the street,” she said. “Some were crying, and there were so many people everywhere.”

A state fire marshal investigator was at the scene Monday and was observed retrieving a UPS package destined for the family. The Delaware State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating, as well.

No plans to assist the displaced individuals had been made as of Monday morning, but Little Creek Deputy Chief Steve Galvin said, “You know, it’s a small community, so we’ll work with the family. Everybody knows everybody here, and so of course, we’ll work with the family and see if we can help in any way.”