4 Firefighters Hurt After Floor Collapses During Delaware Townhome Fire

Four firefighters were injured after the floor of a townhome collapsed during a fire in New Castle County, Delaware, on Thursday.

The flames broke out late in the morning along the 3200 block of Champion Drive near Doral Drive in the Fairway Falls Townhouse community in Wilmington.

“Soon as I looked out, flames were just blowing out of here,” Norman Custis, a neighbor, told NBC10. “It was intense.”

As SkyForce10 hovered over the scene after noon, firefighters could be seen pouring water on a home as thick white smoke rose into the air.

“It’s probably one of the worst fires I’ve ever seen and it looked like it was a terribly hot fire because the flames were coming out of the roof,” Gretchen Fitting, another neighbor, told NBC10. “And it was nasty.”

During the three-alarm fire, the top floor of the home collapsed onto the lower one, trapping responding firefighters who had to put out a "Mayday" call.

The firefighters were eventually rescued. Four of the firefighters were hurt with three of them hospitalized but only one suffering serious but non-life-threatening burns and smoke inhalation symptoms.

“We had a couple of people that were hurt but it could’ve been much worse,” New Castle County Paramedic Sergeant Abigail Haas said. “Everybody is going to be able to go home to their families tonight.” 

No residents were hurt though everyone who lived on the block was displaced after the fire caused approximately $750,000 in damages to several townhomes. The Red Cross is currently assisting the displaced families.

Firefighters were able to place the flames under control. Thursday's weather conditions stopped the flames from spreading to even more homes.

“That was very important,” Mill Creek Fire Company Deputy Chief Joseph Stewart said. “No wind was a good factor in keeping the fire contained."

Officials continue to investigate the cause.