Investigators believe a large fire that gutted a historic bed and breakfast on the Massachusetts island of Nantucket was not intentionally set.Photographs and videos taken at the scene show flames engulfing the Veranda House, which dates back to the 17th century.The 18-room, 7,463-square-foot boutique inn on Step Lane was completely renovated in 2020, according to the Nantucket Resort Collection website.The Nantucket Fire Department said they first received a 911 call about the fire at the Veranda House shortly after 6:45 a.m. Saturday.While fire crews were responding to the scene, officials said an off-duty fire captain and several civilians ran to the inn after hearing about the fire and helped remove guests from the inn.The captain was directed by a guest to a room that possibly had someone inside, but it was empty. The captain, however, did find two other people in the hallway that he helped to safety. Officials said he tried to search the inn further, but was driven back by intense heat and smoke.”The captain and others entered into dangerous conditions without protective equipment to assure everyone got out of the building,” the fire department said in a statement. “The actions of the citizens and the captain saved lives.”The Nantucket Current identified that off-duty fire captain as Capt. Nate Barber, who told the website that he was getting coffee on Broad Street when he saw the smoke coming from the Veranda House.The Current reported that Barber was in the hospital, where he is recovering and being monitored for smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion.The Nantucket Fire Department revealed that Patrick Marks and Jim McIntosh were among the civilians who helped Veranda House guests escape the fire.When on-duty firefighters arrived at the scene, there was a heavy fire across all three floors on the east side of the Veranda House. The crew found out that all patrons of the inn were reportedly evacuated and heavy flames in the building did not allow firefighters to enter the building.Officials said several hand lines and large master stream hose lines were deployed in an attempt to contain the fire, but flames did spread to several other buildings to their proximity to the Veranda House.The extensive fire broke out in at least two other buildings, which officials deemed a total loss along with the Veranda House. There is no estimated cost of the damages caused by the fire at this time.Shortly before 2 p.m., the Nantucket Current tweeted a video that shows part of the charred inn collapsing into the street.Firefighters from several Cape Cod departments were called in to assist due to the spread of the fire over the larger area, including Hyannis, Yarmouth Sandwich, Dennis, Harwich and Centerville-Osterville-Marstons Mills (COMM).The firefighters from Cape Cod arrived on Nantucket via Steamship Authority and Hy-Line High-Speed ferries. Officials said a total of 17 Nantucket Fire Department personnel responded to the scene.The majority of the fire was extinguished at 8 p.m. and firefighters were on the scene throughout the night and into Sunday morning to monitor hot spots and possible rekindling of the fire.”I can remember one or two instances in the last 20 years where they’ve had to actually call in resources, and this is by far the most — to have them from three different Cape Cod departments come over and be actively working the fire with them,” said Jason Graziadei, editor for the Nantucket Current.No civilian injuries have been reported at this time. Three firefighters were transported to Nantucket Cottage Hospital to be treated for possible heat exhaustion, while a fourth was transported for a back injury. Officials said of the four firefighters who were hospitalized, three were released on Saturday while one was monitored overnight and released from the hospital on Sunday.Emergency services personnel at the scene did assure all guests and staff at the Veranda House were accounted for.About 185 customers were without power because of the fire at about 8:45 a.m., according to National Grid. All but seven had their power restored by 11 a.m.The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Nantucket Fire Department and the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services, which is also known as the State Fire Marshal’s Office.Officials said a Nantucket fire prevention officer performed a walkthrough inspection of the Veranda House with the property representatives on April 12 and found that the property had a functioning alarm system and proper fire extinguishers.The Nantucket Fire Department did note that the inn had no fire sprinkler system, but it was not required by code when the building was constructed in the 1600s.Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Investigators believe a large fire that gutted a historic bed and breakfast on the Massachusetts island of Nantucket was not intentionally set.
Photographs and videos taken at the scene show flames engulfing the Veranda House, which dates back to the 17th century.
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The 18-room, 7,463-square-foot boutique inn on Step Lane was completely renovated in 2020, according to the Nantucket Resort Collection website.
The Nantucket Fire Department said they first received a 911 call about the fire at the Veranda House shortly after 6:45 a.m. Saturday.
While fire crews were responding to the scene, officials said an off-duty fire captain and several civilians ran to the inn after hearing about the fire and helped remove guests from the inn.
The captain was directed by a guest to a room that possibly had someone inside, but it was empty. The captain, however, did find two other people in the hallway that he helped to safety. Officials said he tried to search the inn further, but was driven back by intense heat and smoke.
“The captain and others entered into dangerous conditions without protective equipment to assure everyone got out of the building,” the fire department said in a statement. “The actions of the citizens and the captain saved lives.”
The Nantucket Current identified that off-duty fire captain as Capt. Nate Barber, who told the website that he was getting coffee on Broad Street when he saw the smoke coming from the Veranda House.
The Current reported that Barber was in the hospital, where he is recovering and being monitored for smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion.
The Nantucket Fire Department revealed that Patrick Marks and Jim McIntosh were among the civilians who helped Veranda House guests escape the fire.
When on-duty firefighters arrived at the scene, there was a heavy fire across all three floors on the east side of the Veranda House. The crew found out that all patrons of the inn were reportedly evacuated and heavy flames in the building did not allow firefighters to enter the building.
Officials said several hand lines and large master stream hose lines were deployed in an attempt to contain the fire, but flames did spread to several other buildings to their proximity to the Veranda House.
The extensive fire broke out in at least two other buildings, which officials deemed a total loss along with the Veranda House. There is no estimated cost of the damages caused by the fire at this time.
Shortly before 2 p.m., the Nantucket Current tweeted a video that shows part of the charred inn collapsing into the street.
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Firefighters from several Cape Cod departments were called in to assist due to the spread of the fire over the larger area, including Hyannis, Yarmouth Sandwich, Dennis, Harwich and Centerville-Osterville-Marstons Mills (COMM).
The firefighters from Cape Cod arrived on Nantucket via Steamship Authority and Hy-Line High-Speed ferries. Officials said a total of 17 Nantucket Fire Department personnel responded to the scene.
The majority of the fire was extinguished at 8 p.m. and firefighters were on the scene throughout the night and into Sunday morning to monitor hot spots and possible rekindling of the fire.
“I can remember one or two instances in the last 20 years where they’ve had to actually call in resources, and this is by far the most — to have them from three different Cape Cod departments come over and be actively working the fire with them,” said Jason Graziadei, editor for the Nantucket Current.
This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
No civilian injuries have been reported at this time. Three firefighters were transported to Nantucket Cottage Hospital to be treated for possible heat exhaustion, while a fourth was transported for a back injury. Officials said of the four firefighters who were hospitalized, three were released on Saturday while one was monitored overnight and released from the hospital on Sunday.
Emergency services personnel at the scene did assure all guests and staff at the Veranda House were accounted for.
About 185 customers were without power because of the fire at about 8:45 a.m., according to National Grid. All but seven had their power restored by 11 a.m.
The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Nantucket Fire Department and the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services, which is also known as the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Officials said a Nantucket fire prevention officer performed a walkthrough inspection of the Veranda House with the property representatives on April 12 and found that the property had a functioning alarm system and proper fire extinguishers.
The Nantucket Fire Department did note that the inn had no fire sprinkler system, but it was not required by code when the building was constructed in the 1600s.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
