News

HIGH WINDS KNOCKDOWN TREE ONTO BUILDING - West Street
Wednesday, June 4, 2008

On the evening hours of June the 4th severe weather moved threw the area, causing multiple electrical hazards and trees down, along with structure fires. At 2153 hours the LFD was alerted for a structural collapse of a building on West Street. Chief Mark Sheridan arrived on scene to find a very large tree had fallen onto a local business. Due to the integrity of the structure Chief Sheridan had the Sussex County Technical Rescue Team alerted to the scene. Crews from the SCTRT arrived and the determination was made to bring in a crane to lift the tree off the building. Members went to work cutting off branches so the lift would be lighter, while awaiting the arrival of the crane. While crews were working units were diverted to 3 working structure fires in the area. Assistance from Delmar, Sharptown, Gumboro, Georgetown, and Millsboro came to aid. The crane arrived and the remaining tree was lifted free from the building. Town Officials arrived on scene and they surveyed the damage and determined that the building was too unstable, and it would be demolished as soon as possible. With that in mind Fire/Rescue personnel did not take the effort to shore up, and stabilize the building. Chief Sheridan and last units cleared the scene at approx. 0409 hours.