Damage estimated at $100,000 in New Year's Eve Cheswold Little Union Church fire

Fire consumed a historic church near Dover early on New Year's Eve and sent three firefighters to a hospital.

Shortly before 1 a.m. Monday, the Cheswold Volunteer Fire Department responded to a fire at the one-story Little Union Church at 5083 W. Denneys Road. Firefighters arrived to find the church with fire shooting from several windows, according to the company's Facebook post. 

A wall collapsed shortly after firefighters extinguished the blaze, according to the post.

Three firefighters were injured, the post said. They were treated at Kent General Hospital and listed in good condition, according to Assistant State Fire Marshal Michael Chionchio.

Dover and Leipsic fire departments also responded, as did medics. Units cleared the scene at about 4 a.m.

Also on the scene were state fire investigators and federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Chionchio said. The agents are looking for the fire's origin and cause, he said, which is protocol.

The damage is estimated at $100,000, Chionchio said.

The church was historically a place of worship for the Lenape, part of Delaware's Native American community. A small cemetery resides near the church where many Lenape are buried. Across the street is the site of the former Lenape Indian schoolhouse, which was in use until desegregation forced its closure in 1964.

The tribe does not own the land.

Lenape Indian Tribe looks to reclaim historic Delaware land, establish sovereignty

Members of the Lenape have been working to get some of the land back, in part to build a community center, Lenape Chief Dennis Coker told The News Journal in July.

Getting the cemetery and church added to the National Register of Historic places was another goal, especially since they are located close to or in the right-of-way and could be torn down or damaged if the road is widened. 

Coker said over the summer that buying the land and preserving the historical landmarks is a small, but significant step that will allow the Lenape to build a new home.

"Having land opens up so many opportunities," Coker said. "We rent now and it's eating us alive." 

It's unclear what the fire will do to these efforts.

Reporter Jessica Biescontributed to this report.

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