Corolla, N.C. - A massive fire burned a building and several homes in Corolla Friday night.
The fire started in the Brindley Beach Vacation and Sales Center around 7:15 p.m. and wasn't under control until around 10:45 p.m. The building was empty and there were no injuries, but the structure is a total loss.
"I got a call from my wife saying it's not on fire, it's gone," said Douglas Brindley, owner of Brindley Beach Vacation and Sales.
A chimney is all that's left of what used to be the 12,000 square foot building.
Five rental homes nearby also have serious structural damage. They were unoccupied at the time.
Investigators believe it was the high winds that cause it to spread, but there is still no word on what sparked it in the first place.
Saturday, there was still smoke in the air and investigators were on scene to make sure there were no flare-ups.
However, Brindley Beach Vacation and Sales Center say business is open as usual. They set up an umbrella, chairs, and a sign close to the scene.
"We were here at 5:00 AM, we had our housekeepers out to do the work, we set up here on the side of the road."
Brindley says the community immediately took action on Saturday, coming with business and more importantly, moral support.
"It's been very nice we've had people bringing us food and drinks and water all day, it's been a great outpouring of the rental and vacation community."
Detectives with the sheriff's office were initially investigating, but the State Bureau of Investigation will handle the case moving forward.
C.P. Buster Nunemaker III
