November 20, 2023

The Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office has determined a commercial building fire that occurred on Saturday, November 18, 2023, in Felton, DE was accidental in nature. The fire was reported at 2:35pm by a rental tenant at the J&J Contracting Storage Facility, located in the 9000 block of S. Dupont Hwy, in Felton, DE. The Felton Community Fire Co responded to the call and arrived with heavy smoke and fire inside a large commercial storage structure. Assistance was requested from several neighboring fire companies. One firefighter was transported to Bayhealth Kent Campus for a minor leg injury sustained during fire suppression operations. The fire was placed under control at 4:50pm.

Deputy State Fire Marshal’s were called to the scene to investigate the origin and cause of the fire. It was determined that the fire originated in a vehicle inside a separate storage unit that was being privately rented and spread to the other storage units, which were all attached.

The cause of the fire was determined to be an engine compartment malfunction in a 2015 GMC pickup that was being worked on at the time and was unable to be moved out of the structure before spreading to surrounding combustible materials.
Damages are estimated at $300,000.

Chief Deputy B. Scott Bullock

Delaware State Fire Marshal
1537 Chestnut Grove Rd
Dover, Delaware 19904
(302) 739-4447 Office

Print