News

Explosion Levels Laurel Area Home - Dogwood Lane
Monday, April 26, 2010

On Monday evening around 9:30 p.m. a ominous clap of thunder was heard around the Laurel area. The sound was reported as far away as Seaford. At 9:38 p.m. Laurel Fire Dept., Delmar, Sharptown and Sussex County EMS were alerted for an explosion on Dogwood Lane west of Laurel. Asst. Chief Jeff Hill responded as 81 Command. EOC advised Hill of a report of an explosion in a residence with subjects trapped. Eng. 81 2 responded with Fire Chief Steve Brittingham as Officer, Eng. 81-4 responded from the Gerald Brown Sycamore Station with Asst. Chief Tim Walker as Officer Tower 81 responded with Deputy Chief Mike Lowe and all units advised they were fully staffed. Upon arrival Hill confirmed a residence had suffered total collapse with still subjects unaccounted for. A call was made to activate the Sussex County Tech Rescue Team and Hill confirmed he needed at least two Heavy Rescue Units on scene. EMS crews began triage in the driveway of family members who were self extracted from the rubble. Chief Brittingham was assigned extrication of the one victim who was found near the driveway beneath debris. Deputy Chief Lowe was assigned Division One in the front of the residence and Asst. Chief Walker was assigned Division Two in the rear. Rescue 74 arrived from Delmar and Deputy Chief Rementer and Past Chief Johnson assisted Lowe at Division One and set up a staging area for resources and manpower. Search and information from residents confirmed there was only one person to be extricated. Crews from Sharptown with Deputy Chief Billy White assisted at Division Two. Once victims were accounted for, extricated and treatment began, crews back out of the scene and turned the scene over to the Fire Marshal and State Police. The cause of the incident is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal. The Officers of Laurel Fire Dept. would like to thank everyone who assisted with such an incident.