PENDER COUNTY – An early morning fire Thursday destroyed a Surf City motel, said Tom Collins, director of Pender County Emergency Management.
There was one occupant in Tiffany’s Motel, 1502 N. New River Drive, but the person escaped, Collins said.
Initially, Collins reported that no one was injured. But the Associated Press is reporting that one person was taken to the hospital for burns on their arms and hands.
The fire, made worse by high winds, also destroyed a house behind the motel and badly damaged another. No one was home in either residence, Collins said.
Fire departments from seven communities responded to the fire, which began shortly after 3 a.m. Firefighters had to contend with strong winds, and though the fire was under control by 6 a.m., they were still working to put out hot spots as of 7:30 a.m., Collins said.
Collins explained that there are two parts of Tiffany’s Motel on either side of the street. The one that burned to the ground was the original structure.
Surf City Fire Department and Volunteer Department were joined by units from North Topsail, Topsail Beach, Hampstead, Sloop Point, Turkey Creek and Sneads Ferry, Collins said.
Also on the scene were the Pender EMS, the State Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Surf City police as well as Surf City’s Mayor and Town Manager.
SURF CITY, NC (PENDER 23) *WORKING FIRE* 2ND ALM EQUIV 1501 N NEW RIVER DR X-ST PENDER AVE. FULLY INVOLVED 3 STY MOTEL PER CALLER. ALM CO ADV PEOPLE STILL INSIDE BLDG. C2301 REQ 2 ADDL DEPTS. COs ADV 2 OF 3 BLDGS 100% INV, WITH 3RD ONE STARTING. TOPSAIL BEACH AND SURF CITY VFD FOR M/A. ADD N TOPSAIL BEACH (ONSLOW) AND HAMPSTED (PENDER 16). STBYS AND MOVE UPS IN PLACE [CFP947] 90
U/D SURF CITY, NC (PENDER 23) *3RD ALM EQUIV* 1501 N NEW RIVER DR. 4 BLDGS NOW INVOLVED. SAME IS 1 BLDG OF MOTEL AND 3 PRIVATE DWELLINGS. STRONG WINDS HAMPERING EFFORTS. ALL HANDS WORKING, 2 LADDERS OPERATING. IC REQ SNEADYS FERRY & TURKEY CREEK (ONSLOW) TO SCENE. ON OPS-2. [CFP*947] 90
See the location of all fire stations in Pender County.
