'Major' fire engulfs Nantucket Veranda House bed and breakfast; Guests evacuated safely
NANTUCKET - A major fire engulfed the Veranda House bed & breakfast on Nantucket Saturday morning, and authorities say actions by citizens and a fire captain "saved lives."
Videos posted to social media by the The Nantucket Current showed the three-floor historic hotel on Step Lane in flames. No civilian injuries were reported, but two firefighters were hospitalized for possible heat exhaustion, and another for a back injury.
The fire started before 7 a.m. An off-duty captain and several civilians ran to the hotel and started evacuating people.
The Nantucket Current reports that the off-duty captain was Nantucket Fire Department Captain Nate Barber.
"The Captain and others entered into dangerous conditions without protective equipment to assure everyone got out of the building," the fire department said. "The actions of the citizens and the Captain saved lives."
Firefighters spent hours putting out the fire, which spread to "several surrounding buildings," according to the fire department. Several hand lines and hose lines were destroyed in the attempt to douse the flames.
The department said there's extensive damage, and several buildings are total losses. Video from the Current showed the Veranda partially collapsing Saturday afternoon.
"This will be a long term operation," the department said.
The Veranda House, built in the late 1600s, had 18 rooms and suites and advertised a "luxury" stay.
"Today, July 9th, The Veranda House experienced a major onsite fire," the resort posted to Facebook. "With the support of all the first responders, and our local community members, we can confirm that all employees and guests are safely evacuated and accounted for."
The Yarmouth Fire Department said it was among "multiple other firefighters from around the Cape" that took ferries to Nantucket to help.