Smoke detectors save man, dogs from fire

Local fire officials often report when fire damages property and injures residents that smoke detectors either were not in the affected home or were not working, enhancing the risk of an already dangerous situation. But the opposite was true on Dec. 29, when the Millville Volunteer Fire Company responded to a fire in a trailer home on New Marydels Road, near Camp Barnes Road.

MVFC Public Information Officer Bob Powell reported that Dennis Shipe, 19, had been home and taking a nap in his bedroom when his family’s trailer caught fire around 4 p.m. on that Friday. Both of his parents were working and not at home at the time of the fire.

“Fortunately, there were working smoke detectors in the trailer, containing new batteries, and he was awakened when the detectors started going off,” Powell said. “He smelled the smoke, grabbed their portable phone and the two dogs, and quickly exited the trailer.”

“The young man proceeded to call 911 to report the fire,” Powell continued. “During the conversation to 911, the line went dead due to loss of service by the fire.”

But that didn’t stop the alarm from being reported, and firefighters were quickly on the scene. Within one minute of the dispatch of the alarm, Millville’s Command Unit and Engine 6 were responding to the scene, Powell said.

Roxana VFC Assistant Chief Guy Hudson arrived at the scene first and reported a trailer on fire. Hudson also determined the only occupant of the trailer had safely made it out of the fire. Millville First Assistant Chief Doug Scott arrived next, closely followed by Engine 6.

“Scott quickly determined there were no occupants in the trailer, allowing him to direct the first crew using a compressed-air foam system line into the front door to extinguish the fire,” Powell reported.

As additional units and manpower from Millville, Roxana and Bethany Beach arrived on the scene, Scott employed a second compressed-air foam system line into use, while establishing an adequate water supply with tankers from Millville and Roxana, according to Powell.

The Roxana Volunteer Fire Company REHAB unit was utilized by the Millville Volunteer Fire Company ambulance personnel and Sussex County Emergency Medical Service Paramedics to provide rest and hydration of the firefighters, allowing them to return to work.

One firefighter sustained a minor injury at the scene and was transported to Beebe Hospital in Lewes, where he was treated and released. The Dagsboro, Frankford and Selbyville volunteer fire companies provided standby assistance during the alarm.

“Unfortunately, the family did loose one of their pet cats in the fire,” Powell noted.

The cause of the fire was undetermined early this week and was still under investigation by the Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office. Damage was estimated at approximately $70,000.

“Assistant Chief Doug Scott and the rest of the members of the Millville Volunteer Fire Company want to emphasize that this fire is a perfect example of why everyone needs to have working smoke detectors in their residence and to replace the batteries on a regular basis,” said Powell. “A human life was saved on Dec. 29, due to functioning smoke detectors.”