SUSSEX COUNTY, DE - A structure fire in Ocean View Delaware caused an estimated $1,000,000 in damages, according to the Delaware State Fire Marshal.
On Saturday, May 3rd, shortly after 5:00pm, a structure fire was reported at a home located in the unit block of Scarborough Lane at the Ocean View Beach Club community in Ocean View.
According to the state fire marshal, the Millville Volunteer Fire Company and other mutual aid fire companies arrived on the scene to find heavy flames on the exterior of the single-family home. Fire officials say the house was occupied at the time the fire started, and that while residents were leaving the house they noticed a "pile of mulch on fire spreading into a tree next to the structure."
The deputy state fire marshal responded to the scene and conducted an origin and cause investigation. The Delaware State Fire Marshal says that "it was determined that the fire originated in a pile of mulch located adjacent to the home". The cause was determined by fire marshal officials to be accidental in nature and that it was the result of a natural spontaneous combustion of the mulch product.
According to the state fire marshal, the fire spread from the mulch and damaged three additional single family homes.
The total for all damages is estimated at $1,000,000. There were no injuries reported.
This is a developing story. We will update this article when more information becomes available.