Wilmington high rise reopens after 2006 fire

Wilmington celebrates the re-opening of a high rise apartment building that was closed following a major fire in 2006.

Nearly four years after a fire forced 147 residents from a Wilmington apartment building, city officials celebrated the grand re-opening of the Crestview Apartments High Rise Tower on North Market Street.

The 2006 fire was blamed on a resident who was accused of smoking crack over an open flame.  Fire fighters had some difficulty getting the fire under control in part because the building was not equipped with a sprinkler system.

Since then, the building has undergone a $7 million renovation, which includes a new fire suppression system and emergency backup generators and lighting.

City officials say the response was one of the largest in city history for a residential emergency.  All residents in the high rise were temporarily housed in shelters provided by local and state agencies, churches, community groups and volunteers.