NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – Multiple fire departments put out hot spots overnight Thursday, after extinguishing a large fire in a condominium building in the Barefoot Resort area of the city.
North Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue says a multi-alarm fire at The Havens complex off Catalina Drive required aid from other nearby units. Officials say mutual aid from Horry County Fire Rescue, Myrtle Beach Fire, and Calabash Fire responded to the blaze. A Conway fire truck also arrived at the scene late Thursday night.
A picture was released just after 2:40 p.m. Thursday, but it wasn’t immediately clear how long crews had been fighting the fire. There is no word at this time on what caused the fire.
Multi Alarm fire off Catalina Dr in Barefoot Resort. Mutual aid from @hcfirerescue @MyrtleBeachFire and Calabash Fire (NC) pic.twitter.com/tceGO3XGaK— N. Myrtle Beach Fire (@NMBFireRescueSC) October 18, 2018
“As of 3:37 pm it appears all people and pets evacuated the building safely,” a tweet from the City of North Myrtle Beach says.
Fire in The Havens (18 units), Catalina Drive in Barefoot Resort. North Myrtle Beach Fire, Horry County Fire Rescue, Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue and Calabash Fire Rescue (N.C.) fighting fire. As of 3:37pm it appears all people and pets evacuated the building safely. pic.twitter.com/UmHlovfLcT— North Myrtle Beach (@CityofNMB) October 18, 2018
A press release from the city says, as of 6:30 p.m. Thursday, the fire was out, but fire crews were still dealing with multiple hot spots. Crews are expected to remain at the scene through the night.
Fire and rescue personnel completed a second search of the building and “it was found that all people and pets did indeed safely evacuate the 18-unit building,” the release says. “It is our understanding that all firefighters are safe as well.”
The roof of the building was destroyed in the fire and the building’s interior sprinkler system worked, according to the release. “However, what the fire did not impact, water did.”
Aerial ladders sprayed water from above, as thick, dark smoke could be seen in the sky miles away.
A resident of another building in The Haves said he saw huge flames burst through a hole firefighters made in the roof.
“As soon as they did, the fire just really started accelerating,” Aaron Lyon said. “It just spread from east to west and I couldn’t believe how fast it went. I just hope everybody got out of there safe.”
Crews will work to determine the cause of the fire “once the hot spots have been eliminated,” the city says.
WBTW News13 will provide updates as we receive them.
