Fire heavily damages Serpe’s Bakery; 2 firefighters injured

Fire heavily damaged Serpe's Bakery at 1411 Kirkwood Highway in Elsmere. (Photo: Delaware Free News)
Fire heavily damaged Serpe’s Bakery at 1411 Kirkwood Highway in Elsmere. (Photo: Delaware Free News)
Fire heavily damaged Serpe's Bakery..
Fire heavily damaged Serpe’s Bakery..

UPDATED STORY: Serpe’s Bakery reopens after fire

ELSMERE, DELAWARE (12/24/2015) Flames were shooting through the roof when Elsmere firefighters arrived at Serpe’s Bakery shortly after 6 tonight, authorities said.

The fire caused heavy damage to the building at 1411 Kirkwood Highway.

Two firefighters suffered heat exhaustion and were taken by ambulance to Christiana Hospital in Stanton, said Sgt. Abigail Haas of New Castle County paramedics. The men, ages 45 and 22, were in stable condition.

Investigators are on the scene trying to determine how the fire started, said Michael Chionchio, assistant state fire marshal.

The amount of the damage has not been determined, he said.

The business had closed for the day less than an hour before the fire was spotted.

No injuries were reported.

Firefighters from Wilmington and a number of suburban fire companies assisted in battling the blaze, which closed Kirkwood Highway in both directions. Other fire companies responding: Cranston Heights, Five Points, Minquas,
Belvedere, Christiana and Mill Creek.

Serpe and Sons Bakery was established on North Madison Street in Wilmington in 1952, and moved to its current location in 1964, according to the company’s website, and serves many local restaurants. The sign above the business identifies it simply as Serpe’s Bakery.