UPDATE: Heating unit to blame for Rehoboth Beach blaze

A fire that severely damaged a Rehoboth Beach home on Tuesday, has been ruled as accidental.

The Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office says the fire was reported just before 12:25 PM, at a three story home on Pennsylvania Avenue. Firefighters with the The Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company arrived on scene, and reportedly found heavy fire showing from the first and second floors of the house.

With help from the Lewes, Indian River, Bethany Beach, Milton, and Millville fire companies, they extinguished the blaze. The flames were reportedly under control by 1:40 PM, but units stayed on site until around 3:30 PM.

The home was apparently unoccupied at the time of the fire. No injuries were reported. Deputies from the State Fire Marshal’s Office have determined that the fire was accidental, and was caused by an unknown malfunction in the home’s heating system, in the basement of the house. Damages are estimated to total $750,000.