Fire hits Wilmington apartments

Fire damaged two apartment buildings in the 1700 block of N. Broom St. in Wilmington. (Photo: Delaware Free News)

Fire damaged two apartment buildings in the 1700 block of N. Broom St. in Wilmington. (Photo: Delaware Free News)WILMINGTON, DELAWARE (7/10/2017) Fire damaged two apartment buildings in the 1700 block of N. Broom St., city authorities said today.

The fire was reported at 1:44 p.m. Sunday at 1710 N. Broom, and firefighters found flames and heavy smoke coming from the rear of the 3-story dwelling containing four apartments.

The flames extended to the roof, Deputy Chief James R. Jobes said, and spread to an adjoining apartment at 1708 N. Broom.

“An aggressive interior attack was conducted as the fire spread to the adjoining property via a shared flat roof requiring members of the ladder companies to cut holes in the roofing material to slow down the spread of the fire,” Jobes said.

No injuries were reported, and the fire was declared under control shortly after 2 p.m.

City building inspectors condemned 1710 N. Broom and the third-floor apartment at 1708.

Jobes said he didn’t have information on how many families were displaced by the fire, which is under investigation by the city Fire Marshal’s Office.