July 20, 2023

The Delaware State Fire Marshal’s office is investigating this morning’s fatal fire in Bear, Delaware.  One person is deceased, and three additional people were injured.

The blaze, reported shortly after 3:00 am, occurred in the unit block of Eaton Place in the Clairborne at Lexington Farms development near Summit Bridge Road and Denny Road.  The Aetna Hose, Hook and Ladder Company arrived on the scene with smoke pouring from the two-story house, two people trapped inside the house, and two people injured on the outside of the house.

One occupant was transported to the Christiana Hospital and was pronounced deceased at the hospital.  One occupant from the home was taken to Christiana Hospital in critical condition.  Two other occupants were transported to the Christiana Hospital in serious condition.

State fire investigators are currently on the scene searching for the fire’s origin and cause.  Heavy fire damage was estimated at $300,000.  Two canines died inside the house.  There were no residential sprinklers inside the house.

This fire remains under investigation.

Office of the State Fire Marshal – Delaware

Michael G. Chionchio

Assistant State Fire Marshal

(302) 739-3312 Office Direct Line

(302) 593-9002 Cell

Update:  July 6, 2023

The Delaware State Fire Marshal’s office has concluded this investigation on July 6, 2023.  The fire was accidentally caused when spent fireworks were discarded inside a trash container located in the garage.  The fire erupted inside the garage and heavily damaged the home.

July 5, 2023

The Delaware State Fire Marshal’s office is investigating last night’s fire that heavily damaged a Wilmington, Delaware house.

The Talleyville Fire Company responded to the 100 block of West Pembrey Drive near Foulk Road shortly after 11:30 pm for a 9-1-1 call that a house was on fire.  Firefighters arrived on the scene and encountered flames shooting from the home. Mutual aid fire companies assisted at the scene.

Deputy fire marshals are investigating the circumstances of this fire.  Heavy fire damage was estimated at $200,000.  There were no reported injuries.

This fire remains under investigation.

Office of the State Fire Marshal – Delaware

Michael G. Chionchio

Assistant State Fire Marshal

(302) 739-3312 Office Direct Line

(302) 593-9002 Cell

Delaware Natural Resources Police and Wilmington Department of Police are investigating a vehicle accident with serious injuries that occurred Friday afternoon at the Abessinio Stadium, located within Wilmington State Parks.

A 16-year-old Wilmington boy failed to maintain control of his 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee while reversing from a parking space. The Jeep, traveling in reverse, first struck two parked vehicles, a 2012 Hyundai Accent and a 2009 Cadillac Escalade. The Jeep then continued in reverse striking two individuals that were sitting on chairs behind the Escalade trapping a 65-year-old Dover woman under the Jeep.

The female victim had to be extricated from beneath the Jeep by Wilmington Fire Department personnel that arrived on scene. She was then flown to Christiana Hospital by Delaware State Police’s aviation unit. At this time, she is listed in serious but stable condition with multiple, non-life-threatening injuries.

The second victim seated in the parking lot is a 63-year-old Middletown man who was transported to Christiana Hospital by ambulance for leg injuries. He has since been treated and released.

The driver of the Hyundai, a 51-year-old Smyrna man, who was seated in his parked car was transported to Christiana Hospital for injuries to his leg and back. He has since been treated and released. A passenger in the Hyundai, a 68-year-old Smyrna man, was uninjured in the accident.

The driver of the Jeep was uninjured in this accident.

This accident remains under investigation and no charges have been filed at this time. Anyone with information regarding this incident should contact Cpl. David Redgraves at david.redgraves@delaware.gov.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov; Cpt. John McDerby, john.mcderby@delaware.gov

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More than $1.3M in total fines assessed for coverage discrimination

Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro has announced the completion of additional Mental Health Parity examinations on regulated health insurers in Delaware. These violations resulted in $735,000 in fines and significant insurer corrections to create a less discriminatory environment in the future. Combined with two examinations completed in 2020, Delaware’s largest health insurers have been fined a total of $1,332,000 for not treating mental and behavioral health care equally to other forms of needed care. A high number of violations was expected as these final reports complete the first round of assessments by the department.

“Every person should be able to seek the care they need without undue expense or difficulty, and that remains true whether the person is seeking care for a physical ailment, or a mental one,” said Commissioner Navarro. “The thorough examinations conducted by the Department of Insurance highlight many needed improvements to ensure parity, and we will continue to work to bring these corrections to fruition and to hold insurers accountable.”

Mental Health Parity laws, which exist both at the state and federal levels, aim to eliminate coverage discrimination between policyholders seeking mental illness or substance abuse care and those seeking physical care. A lack of parity can prevent a person from pursuing needed care due to cost or limited access, or otherwise make it more expensive or more time intensive than medical visits. Department examinations are critical to uncovering parity issues as consumers may not be aware if they are experiencing disparate treatment.

“We have been working toward a more just healthcare system over the past decade, and mental health parity has been a key solution to the issues of access and affordability that plague our communities,” Commissioner Navarro shared on an American Health Law Association podcast.

Throughout the examination processes, instances where parity was violated included placing greater limits on the coverage of medicines for an insured during the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness or substance dependency than for covered services provided in the diagnosis and treatment of any other illness or disease covered by the health benefit plan. Insurers imposed Non-Quantitative Treatment Limitations (NQTL) prior authorization requirements more stringently to mental and behavioral health benefits than to medical/surgical benefits and thus created barriers and delays to treatment. Companies excluded mental health-related medications in their cost-saving programs for policyholders, and placed these medications on formulary tiers that resulted in members who take those pharmaceuticals facing higher copays compared to other medications offered in lower tiers.