Salisbury Fire Department

At 1635 on 12/12/15, Wicomico 911 dispatched SFD Stations 16/2/1 to a reported house fire in the 500 block of Delaware Ave.  AC 1 (Gladwell) arrived to find lazy black smoke emanating from the attic vents of a 2.5 story wood-frame residential. Command was established and an initial 360 revealed vehicles in the driveway, but no one outside, or answering the door.  The first-arriving engine from Station 16 forced entry, advanced a 1.75" attack line, split crews and performed a rapid initial search and advanced the handline to Division 2.  Paramedic 16's crew assited the MPO by securing a water supply to the nearest hydrant and threw ground ladders.  The initial attack crew advised they found a working fire in an upstairs bedroom and were making an aggressive attack.  After a quick knockdown, crews found the attic access scuttle and checked for extension both in the attic, and in the walls of the balloon-framed older structure.  Later-arriving units assisted with secondary searches, ventilation (horizontal), and additional ground ladders.  All searches were negative, and the occupant was contacted with the assistance of Neighborhood Services of Salisbury,  The structure was condemned by NSCC. 

Units from all three SFD stations assisted, as well as the Maryland State Fire Marshall's Office, Salisbury Neighborhood Services, DP&L, and the Red Cross.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.  Nor injuries were reported.