January 13, 2024

The Delaware Office of the State Fire Marshal is investigating a fire that damaged a commercial structure in Lewes, Delaware on January 12, 2024.

The incident, reported shortly after 09:00 P.M., occurred in the 18000 block of Plantations Boulevard Lewes, Delaware. The Lewes Fire Department arrived on the scene and found smoke and fire coming from a commercial structure utilized as the Dave Marshal Tennis and Fitness Center. Mutual aid fire companies assisted at the scene.

Delaware State Fire Marshal Deputies were called to the scene to perform an investigation to determine the origin and cause of the fire. It was determined that the fire originated on the interior of the structure, the cause remains under investigation at this time. The structure was not occupied at the time of the fire. The structure was not protected by an automatic fire sprinkler system. A Firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion. There were no other reported injuries. Damage is estimated at $275000.

John M. Galaska
Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal
(302) 856-5600 Office
(302) 542-9190 Cell

Striped bass graphic/ Duane Raver for DNREC

DOVER – An Emergency Secretary’s Order issued by DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin reduces the striped bass fishing quota for commercial fishing and limits the number and size of fish that recreational anglers can keep. The emergency regulations bring Delaware into compliance with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) required 18 percent reduction in fishing mortality.

The emergency regulations were issued since there was insufficient time for Delaware to adopt regulations through the standard regulatory process prior to ASMFC’s required implementation date. The standard regulatory process will be initiated to obtain public input on the state’s striped bass fishing regulations that will replace the interim emergency regulations.

The emergency regulations reduce the commercial 2020 striped bass quota for Delaware to 142,474 pounds. All other commercial fishing restrictions remain unchanged.

The emergency regulations establish Delaware’s recreational striped bass fishing limits at one-fish-per day with a “slot limit” size of 28 through 35 inches, except for the period from July 1 through Aug. 31, when the allowable slot limit size is 20 through 25 inches in the Delaware Bay, Delaware River and their tributaries.

The recreational striped bass fishery remains open all year, except that retaining striped bass from April 1 through May 31 continues to be prohibited on their spawning grounds in the Delaware River, Nanticoke River, C&D Canal, and their tributaries. Anglers fishing these spawning grounds during this period are required to use a non-offset circle hook with a gap greater than 3/8-inches when using natural baits.

Recreational striped bass possession and size limits have been updated in the online 2020 Fishing Guide, which can be checked for current and updated fishing regulations.

For more information about striped bass fishing regulations, call the DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Fisheries Section at 302-739-9914.

Follow the Division of Fish & Wildlife on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/DelawareFishWildlife

Media Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

DOVER – Delaware’s Advisory Council on Tidal Finfisheries will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20 in the DNREC Auditorium, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901.

The agenda includes discussion of recreational and commercial fishery options to comply with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s required 18 percent reduction in striped bass removals for 2020. For more information, including the meeting agenda, visit the Delaware Public Meeting Calendar at https://publicmeetings.delaware.gov/Meeting/63870

For more information on Delaware fisheries, please call DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife, Fisheries Section, at 302-739-9914.

Follow the Division of Fish & Wildlife on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/DelawareFishWildlife.

Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902