2 homes a total loss from fires at Ocean Isle Beach days after Isaias
OCEAN ISLE BEACH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Several homes caught fire at Ocean Isle Beach on Thursday morning, days after multiple fires had to be put out following Hurricane Isaias making landfall.
A tweet from the Horry County, South Carolina Fire & Rescue squad said their crews were asked to help put out fires to homes on Concord Street. A call came out reporting the fires at 1:13 a.m.
Mayor Debbie Smith said two homes were a total loss and three were damaged. One person was airlifted to Chapel Hill for treatment. The fire is believed to have started from a car parked underneath the home.
"We're in cleanup mode," Smith said. "We have a lot of contractors here doing minor stair repairs, deck repairs.
"This is a strong community," she added. "We'll come back."
A previous evacuation was lifted for residents. Visitors will be allowed back on the island Thursday. Smith asked that those on the beach stay away from blocked-off areas.
On Tuesday morning, Crews responded to multiple house fires at Ocean Isle Beach hours after Hurricane Isaias made landfall. Those fires happened when a transformer exploded. Smith said nine homes in total were affected by fires.
Isaias downgraded to a tropical storm while moving through the state, but spawned several tornadoes, one of which was an EF-3 and led to two deaths in Bertie County.
Four adults, five children and a dog were rescued in nearby Oak Island on Tuesday.
"Safely loaded in our MRAP and taken to safety!" a tweet from Brunswick Sherrif's Office read. Oak Island was under a partial evacuation on Wednesday.
