Two lifeguards injured in Outer Banks house fire
Two Outer Banks lifeguards were injured, one seriously, in a Friday morning blaze that gutted their home in Kill Devil Hills.
Firefighters were called to the 200 block of North Memorial Boulevard just after 1 a.m. to find fire on the rear decks of the single-family, beach-box style home. Everyone got out, but two residents had to be treated for smoke inhalation, with one flown by helicopter to Sentara Norfolk Hospital.
The fire destroyed the house, which was home to several Nags Head lifeguards.
“All of the other guards were able to escape without injury,” Nags Head Ocean Rescue supervisor Shawn Kenny wrote in a GoFundMe campaign. “The home and all their belongings
are a total loss. The Outer Banks always rallies when tragedy hits. They are in need of almost everything.”
The GoFundMe had raised more than $9,000 by early Friday afternoon.
The Kill Devil Hills fire marshal is investigating the cause of the blaze.
It was the third major fire within seven days on the Outer Banks. On Wednesday night, fire heavily damaged the Duck Village Surf Shop location on Hatteras Island, displacing employees who lived above the building in Salvo.
Firefighters arrived about 8 p.m. to find heavy fire on the outside of the building at 26689 N.C. 12, with flames spreading inside, Chicamacomico Banks Fire & Rescue said in a Facebook post. Employees and residents evacuated safely. The cause of that fire, too, remains under investigation.
Last week, another fire in Corolla left at least 30 people displaced and caused heavy damage to a condominium. Smoke detectors alerted residents and vacationers to the blaze at 816 Caroline Court in Corolla about 4:30 a.m., helping all get out safely. The cause of that fire also remains under investigation.