Photo: Courtesy of the Town of Nantucket.
NANTUCKET, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Flames spewing out of the Veranda House Hotel resulted in the total loss of several buildings in the area on Saturday, as fire crews were unable to contain the blaze.
The Nantucket Fire Department said in a statement that the fire broke out in the area of North Water and Step Lane in the downtown core district of the Island, as first responders arrived to the scene with multiple Engines and ladder trucks.
According to officials an off-duty Captain and several civilians ran to the location upon hearing of the fire, where they assisted in evacuating hotel guests from the burning building. The Captain and others entered the building without protective equipment to help get everyone out of the hotel, finding and guiding two people to safety.
"The actions of the citizens and the Captain saved lives," the NFD said.
All patrons of the hotel were reported as safe and evacuated as officials arrived to start extinguishing the fire. Soon after, the fire spread to other areas and eventually developed in at least two other buildings. Nantucket officials requested backup from mainland fire departments on Cape Cod including Hyannis, Yarmouth, and COMM, who arrived at the Island through the Steamship Authority's ferries.
Fire crews say the fire had grown out of control, and spread to several buildings to cause extensive damage.
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"Damage to the structures involved is extensive with several of the buildings being total losses. Estimated cost of damage and property from the total loss from the fire is unknown at this time. Fire department personnel are still on scene and expected to be so for an extended period. This will be a long-term operation," officials said.
Officials say there were no civilian injuries reported at the time, two firefighters were transported for heat exhaustion and a third was hospitalized for a back injury.
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