2 sought for questioning in Bancroft Mills blaze

The Wilmington Fire Department on Monday released photos of two "persons of interest" wanted for questioning in a fire that destroyed a state-owned building at the historic Bancroft Mills complex.

Anyone with information about the two, who appear to be teens or young men, is asked to call the Wilmington Fire Marshal's Office at (302) 576-3130, said Battalion Chief James. R. Jobes, the city fire department's public information officer.

Tips about the fire – reported at 1:02 a.m. Saturday – also may be called to Inspector Thomas Ruger at the same number or emailed to him at Thomas.Ruger@cj.state.de.us, Jobes told The News Journal.

State officials on Monday also announced extended closure of a parking lot and bridge near the fire site.

The fire destroyed a building from the 1800s that housed the long-closed fabric mill's carpentry, plumbing and electrical shops. The Division of Parks and Recreation used the massive three-story wood and brick structure, about 150 feet by 100 feet, for equipment storage.

The fire, started sometime after 8 p.m. Friday, was "suspicious" in nature, according to Michael Globetti, spokesman for the state Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

A pedestrian bridge over the Brandywine Creek, which provides access to Alapocas Run State Park from the Rockford Road area, along with an adjacent parking lot at the Bancroft Mills complex, closed at sunset Monday for the duration of demolition of the building's remains, Globetti said. Demolition is expected to take up to two weeks.

Visitors are encouraged to use nearby parking lots in Brandywine State Park and at the Blue Ball Dairy Barn in Alapocas Run State Park, Globetti said.

The burned building was "irreplaceable" and its value incalculable due to its historic lumber and bricks, Capt. Scott Carrow of DNREC's Natural Resources Police told The News Journal.

The value of equipment lost inside it was estimated at $75,000.

A privately owned building in the complex also was damaged. Two other state-owned but unused buildings at the site, called Copper Black and Turkey Red for the colors dyed in each one, were not damaged.

Throughout demolition, Jobes said, rubble will be searched for evidence related to the fire.

Contact robin brown at (302) 324-2856 or rbrown@delawareonline.com. Find her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter @rbrowndelaware.