LINCOLN, Del.- A house fire in Lincoln left significant damage Monday. Neighbors reported hearing loud blasts before seeing the towering smoke after a fire in a burn barrel spread, said the Delaware State Fire Marshal's Office.
The fire happened on Johnson Road, near Virginia Pine Road and North Old State Road. Carlisle Fire Company was dispatched to the scene at about 2 p.m., along with several other agencies.
Javier Baltazar, who lives nearby, shared his experience, "I was on my way home from work when I got a text from my dad saying it sounded like there was an explosion. As I got closer, I saw the huge black smoke and knew something serious was happening."
The homeowner and one firefighter were taken to the hospital, but with only minor injuries. The Deputy State Fire Marshal determined that the fire, from the burn barrel, was left unattended. The fire spread from the barrel to a nearby storage structure. The fire then continued to spread to several other buildings, including a house, and cars.
Neighbors Matthew Carlton and Kylie Sheehan also witnessed the fire. "I was on the phone when I heard an explosion," Sheehan said. "When I went outside, I saw the black smoke. I didn't know what was going on." Carlton added, "The firefighters did an excellent job of keeping the fire contained. The house is destroyed, and the yard is filled with debris."