Local
Smyrna House Fire Kills One; Investigators Probe Whether Smoke Detectors Were Present
A person died early Saturday after a fire tore through a home on North Albright Street in Smyrna, Delaware. The state Fire Marshal is investigating the cause and whether the home had working smoke detectors.
SMYRNA, Del. â One person is dead after an early-morning fire severely damaged a home in Smyrna on Saturday, according to the Delaware State Fire Marshal's Office.
Crews from the Citizens Hose Company responded to the unit block of North Albright Street at about 3:30 a.m. and found the residence heavily involved in fire, officials said. Firefighters located one person inside the home, pulled them out and turned them over to awaiting paramedics, who attempted life-saving measures. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officials have not released the person's identity, pending notification of family.
The Delaware State Fire Marshal's Office is leading the investigation into what caused the blaze, which was not immediately determined. As part of that inquiry, investigators are examining whether the home was equipped with smoke detectors â a detail that could prove significant in a community still reckoning with fire safety gaps in older housing stock.
Multiple agencies assisted at the scene, including the Smyrna Police Department, American Legion Ambulance, Kent County Paramedics and the Division of Forensic Science.
The fire destroyed much of the home, leaving neighbors in the small Kent County town shaken. Smyrna, located roughly 35 miles south of Wilmington, is home to about 13,000 residents.
Anyone with information about the fire is urged to contact the State Fire Marshal's Office. Officials said the investigation remains active and additional details will be released as they become available.