On Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 7:45 am, Wilmington Fire Department Units were dispatched to 2700 N. Market Street for a report of a fire alarm. Arriving units found heavy smoke and fire coming from the sixth floor. Fire Department personnel were able to contain the Fire to its apartment of origin on the sixth floor. The sixth floor sustained heavy smoke and water damage, as did the fifth, seventh, and eighth floors. Other floors sustained water damage. A third alarm was struck by the Incident Commander, Deputy Chief Joseph Kalinowski. It took over 120 firefighters from the City and surrounding Volunteer Fire Departments to bring the situation under control at 9:45 am. License and Inspections code enforcement officers are surveying the building for structural damage caused by the fire and firefighting efforts.
There were 22 people, including six Firefighters, that were transported to local hospitals. One of the sixteen residents remains in critical condition at this time. Fire department personnel rescued over 50 residents from the building during the fire.
2700 N. Market Street, which is known as the Crestview Apartments is a nine-story high-rise building that is not protected by a sprinkler system. Occupants were notified of the fire by the buildings automatic Fire Alarm System.
The fire is currently under investigation by the Wilmington Fire Marshals office.
