Lighting Strikes Cause House Fires
State Fire Marshal | Date Posted: Thursday, September 3, 2026
State Fire Marshal | Date Posted: Thursday, September 3, 2026

The Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office has investigated two fires in the past two days caused by storms.
The first fire occurred on September 1, 2026 at 10:00 PM in the 1500 block of North Little Creek Road, Dover. The Dover Fire Department along with mutual aid fire companies responded to the residence. Upon arrival, crews encountered smoke inside the residence. Fire crews were able to locate and extinguish a fire in the basement of the occupied home. Investigators responded to the scene and were able to determine that the fire was caused by a lightning strike. Fire damage to the home was minor and there were no injuries reported.
The second fire occurred on September 2, 2026 just before 3:30 PM in the 100 block of Case Ridge Road, Dover. The Dover Fire Department along with mutual aid fire companies responded to the scene to find heavy smoke coming from the roof of a single-family residence. Investigators responded to the scene and determined that lightning struck the residence causing a fire to start in the attic space. The home received heavy fire damage estimated at $750,000. No injuries were reported.

Chief Deputy Brian Schad
Office of the Delaware State Fire Marshal
1537 Chestnut Grove Road
Dover, DE 19904
(302) 739-4447 Office
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State Fire Marshal | Date Posted: Thursday, September 3, 2026

The Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office has investigated two fires in the past two days caused by storms.
The first fire occurred on September 1, 2026 at 10:00 PM in the 1500 block of North Little Creek Road, Dover. The Dover Fire Department along with mutual aid fire companies responded to the residence. Upon arrival, crews encountered smoke inside the residence. Fire crews were able to locate and extinguish a fire in the basement of the occupied home. Investigators responded to the scene and were able to determine that the fire was caused by a lightning strike. Fire damage to the home was minor and there were no injuries reported.
The second fire occurred on September 2, 2026 just before 3:30 PM in the 100 block of Case Ridge Road, Dover. The Dover Fire Department along with mutual aid fire companies responded to the scene to find heavy smoke coming from the roof of a single-family residence. Investigators responded to the scene and determined that lightning struck the residence causing a fire to start in the attic space. The home received heavy fire damage estimated at $750,000. No injuries were reported.

Chief Deputy Brian Schad
Office of the Delaware State Fire Marshal
1537 Chestnut Grove Road
Dover, DE 19904
(302) 739-4447 Office
Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.
Here you can subscribe to future news updates.
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