Mountaire Farms fire caused by power transformer issue: Fire marshal

Multiple fire crews in Sussex County headed to Mountaire's Selbyville location for a fire Monday that investigators say caused an estimated $500,000 in damage.

The call went out about 3:45 p.m. and dispatchers described flames showing from the roof of the building with an evacuation in progress, according to the police scanner.

A Monday night Facebook post from the Selbyville Volunteer Fire Company explained that when crews arrived on scene, they not only discovered the flames on the roof, but also potential exposure to ammonia tanks.

"The crews on scene made a quick stop to the fire and kept chemical tanks cool," the post states. "Quick work by the departments on scene brought this potentially damaging fire under control quickly."

The Delaware State Fire Marshal's Office investigated the structure fire and said in a Tuesday news release that it was caused by a malfunction in a power transformer that occurred while the plant was in operation.

The fire was under control by about 5:50 p.m., according to the release, and no injuries were reported.

The Roxana Volunteer Fire Company, Bishopville Volunteer Fire Company, Frankford Volunteer Fire Company, Gumboro Volunteer Fire Company, Millsboro Volunteer Fire Company, Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company, Millville Volunteer Fire Company, Dagsboro Volunteer Fire Company and Georgetown Volunteer Fire Company assisted in the response, according to the fire company post.