Wilmington, Delaware Firefighters Respond to Church Explosion and Fire

On June 13, 2003, The Wilmington Fire Department units were dispatched to the AutoZone Store at 3600 N. Market Street following several reports of an explosion with fire and building collapse and an injury.

First arriving was faced with heavy fire conditions and a total building collapse with the west wall falling and destroying a parked car. The victim, a female subject had been helped from the car and had sustained minor injuries. She was treated at the scene and was transported to the Wilmington Hospital for evaluation. The building that had suffered the explosion was determined to have an address of #8 East 37th Street. The building had been a 2-story frame above masonry commercial type structure.

The organization that occupied the building was The Bethel Temple Pentecostal Assembly. At the time of the fire and explosion, the building was unoccupied. The church building address is located outside of the city in the Brandywine Hundred Fire Company fire district. The Chief of that department, Michael DiMauro, was notified and he responded to the scene. Chief DiMauro and Deputy Chief Joseph Kalinowski of the Wilmington Fire Department placed the fire under control at 1147 hours. There were no other injuries.

The Delaware State Fire Marshal