Husband and Wife Killed in Overnight House Fire in Wilmington; Two Firefighters Injured
Written by Kiss Media on 20 October 2026
A deadly overnight fire in Wilmington claimed the lives of a husband and wife and left two firefighters injured, officials say.
Crews were dispatched just after 2:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 20, to a residence on the unit block of 8th Avenue near Maryland Avenue for a reported structure fire with possible entrapment. When firefighters arrived, heavy flames were pouring from the second floor and spreading through the roof. Because of the intense heat and concerns the home could collapse, crews were pulled from the building and battled the blaze from the outside.
A family member identified the victims as Tanya Rogers and her husband, John Poteat. Officials reported the couple was found in a bedroom inside the home, though early radio reports had suggested one victim may have been found outside the residence.
Two firefighters suffered minor injuries — including one who was hurt after a set of steps collapsed — and are expected to be OK.
“My sister, my older sister is gone. Her and her husband,” said Tanya Rogers’ sister, Sharon Osborne. “Too much, too much is going through my mind right now… It’s too much.”
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Source: First State Update — https://firststateupdate.com/2026/10/two-dead-two-firefighter-injured-in-wilmington-house-fire/ and 6ABC — https://6abc.com/post/2-dead-firefighters-injured-house-fire-wilmington-delaware/19959168/
