Injuries reported in 3-alarm fire at Valley Run

CLAYMONT, DELAWARE (12/22/2014) In yet another serious fire this weekend, flames swept through multiple units at the Valley Run apartment and townhouse complex Sunday evening, injuring at least three people and drawing 18 fire companies from Delaware and Pennsylvania to fight the blaze along the state line near Claymont.

After the first alarm at 9:08 p.m., arriving firefighters found flames fully involved and through the roof, quickly sounded a second alarm and about an hour later sounded a third when the third floor collapsed, according to reports from the scene.

According to initial reports, all firefighters safely evacuated the building.

Firefighters remained on the scene late into the night.

Investigators from the state Fire Marshal’s Office are still trying to determine how the fire started, Michael Chionchio, assistant state fire marshal, said this morning.

Cpl. Abigail Haas, spokeswoman for New Castle County paramedics, reported the following injuries:

A 79-year-old woman who lives at the complex injured her back while evacuating. She was treated on scene by paramedics and taken by ambulance to St. Francis Hospital in Wilmington. She was in stable condition.
A 25-year-old paramedic was treated at Wilmington Hospital for an ankle injury suffered while working at the scene. He was in stable condition.
A 28-year-old firefighter was injured during fire suppression. He was treated by paramedics for a head injury and then taken by ambulance to Christiana Hospital, in Stanton, in stable condition.
A 27-year-old woman who lives at the complex was evaluated on scene for possible smoke inhalation. She refused transport to the hospital.

The Delaware State Fire Marshal remained is investigating the blaze.