New Hanover garage owned by Philadelphia Eagle great Pete Retzlaff burns down

NEW HANOVER — A garage with cars belonging to former Eagles great Pete Retzlaff burned down late Sunday night.

The fire was reported around 10:20 p.m. after Retzlaff and his wife heard some unusual noises coming from the large garage near their home on the unit block of New Road, according to William Moyer, sergeant with the New Hanover Police and the fire’s investigator.

“Their attention was drawn outside,” Moyer said. “They heard some popping noises, saw smoke, and called (911).”

Firefighters responded within 10 minutes, but the structure was fully involved with flames by that time.

“We immediately went defensive,” Moyer said.

The house sits back off the road, which made fighting the fire difficult. According to Moyer, 11,000 feet worth of supply lines were laid in the operation which involved the New Hanover Fire Company and also Upper Frederick, Sassamansville, Ringing Hill, Gilbertsville and Upper Pottsgrove Fire Companies.

Firefighters were able to protect the house and a nearby barn on the property from the flames, both of which could have also burned.

“We had an assistant chief take his gloves off and touch the window panes of the house and they were hot,” Moyer said.

The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental, likely stemming from an electrical malfunction with lighting on the building’s inside.

The garage housed several cars, including some classics, though the exact number wasn’t divulged.

In total, between the garage and the contents inside, roughly $200,000 of damage was done on the property.

There were no injuries reported on the scene.

Retzlaff was a 5-time Pro-Bowlers with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he played largely tight end between 1956 and 1966. He scored 47 touchdowns and raked in more than 7,400 yards receiving in his career.