Lewes recognized for fire suppression requirement

The City of Lewes was honored Nov. 8 by the Delaware State Fire Prevention Commission, following mayor and city council’s decision to require fire suppression systems in all new residential construction within the city. 

Lewes is only the second municipality in Delaware to require sprinklers, following the City of Newark. 

“The Lewes City Council has chosen a very smart move, in our eyes, to adopt the sprinkler regulation for all residential homes being built in the City of Lewes,” said Ron Marvel, Delaware State Fire Prevention Commission chair. “I think it will be very, very good for the Lewes Fire Department and for the City of Lewes down the road.” 

Marvel pointed to a fire in the Bethany Village community Nov. 6 that resulted in extensive damage. 

“It was a horrendous fire,” Marvel said. “A sprinkler system could very likely have prohibited that house from burning down.”