Residents react to Del. blaze that burned through apartment complex building

November 9, 2018

Taylor Lumpkin,

MILLSBORO, Del. – A Sussex County apartment complex, that was set to open in just two short months, is now facing close to $1.5 million in damages after a fire broke out at one of its buildings, late Thursday night.

Officials in Long Neck say it took more than five other surrounding fire departments to help put the blaze out. Some residents say they saw the blaze from their own backyards. On Friday afternoon, smoke was still coming from the building while crews and officials continued to work to find out exactly what happened.

“I was praying that nobody got hurt,” said Diane Ludwig, a Long Neck resident.

Pray. That’s all some residents in Sussex County could do after they saw the fire that roared through a Carillon Woods apartment complex building.

“The blaze was pretty strong, pretty big and people were very concerned I was just concerned with people in the area,” said Pattie Guippone, another Long Neck resident.

According to the Delaware State Fire Marshal’s office, calls came in about the blaze around 9:00 PM. Officials say the Indian River Fire Company was the first to arrive on the scene, where flames were shooting out from the four story building.

“When I saw it last night through Facebook, I went outside I live right back here and I saw the glow and the smoke and everything,” said Kevin Shoemaker, a Long Neck resident.

Luckily the apartment complex building was still under construction, and did not have have any residents living inside the building at the time.

“I was really very thankful that it was unoccupied,” said Guippone.

But some residents tell us they weren’t so surprised to hear that the fire spread so quickly.

“When we were watching them build it up, the only structure within it that looked like it was concrete looked like elevator shafts or maybe like stairwells. But it was all wood so when I heard it was on fire last night I said it’s going right to the ground. There’s nothing they can do about it,” said Shoemaker.

Officials add that there was no electricity inside of the complex, which has some residents worried about what caused the fire.

“I hope it’s not arson, I mean that would be terrible to think something like that but who knows anything could’ve happen. It’s sad,” said Ludwig.

Crews were on scene Friday trying to determine the exact cause of the fire, but there’s still no word, and the investigation is still ongoing. Officials are also asking that if you have any information regarding the fire you’re asked to call the Delaware State Fire Marshal at 302-826-5298.