Blaze destroys trucks, building at Clean Delaware
Nine fire companies battled an early morning fire Jan. 9 at Clean Delaware Inc., a Milton company that installs and services septic systems. The fire broke out at the company's facility on Isaacs Road, off Route 30, where trucks and other equipment were stored.
The Milton Fire Department responded to the structure fire at 6:43 a.m. The fire was under control by 9:30 a.m. Firefighters from Slaughter Beach, Indian River, Lewes, Farmington, Greenwood, Georgetown, Ellendale and South Bowers assisted in containing the blaze.
About 10 minutes after the first Milton firefighters responded to the scene, a 1,000-gallon propane tank exploded, Milton Fire Chief JR Clark said.
He said no one was injured from the blast.
He said the fire destroyed nearly a dozen vehicles inside a 100-by-100-foot building, which also was completely destroyed.
“We couldn't do a whole lot except get the fire out,” he said.
A few hours later, the Milton Fire Department responded to a rekindling, a small hot spot that reignited shortly after noon, Clark said, but wasn't serious.
The state Fire Marshal's Office estimated damages at $750,000. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control spokesman Michael Globetti said there was a release into the ground of motor oil and fuel from the vehicles that burned, and Clean Delaware has hired a contractor for clean-up operations.
“Our emergency response team, which was on site almost immediately, found there were no serious environmental impacts,” he said.
Green Delaware Manager Gerry Desmond said the damage is significant, but the company is still in business. "Everyone is safe," he said. No injuries have been reported.
The company installs, inspects, repairs and services onsite septic systems throughout the area.
Milton resident Sue Manning, who lives on Hudson Road, several miles from the company site, said she heard a loud boom shortly before 7 a.m. while she was eating her breakfast.
“The house shook and the windows shook,” she said. “I didn't know it was that far away.”
