Crime & Safety

Crews Prevent Alley Fire from Spreading

A fire on Ocean Boulevard could have spread to multiple buildings along the strip if not for some fortunate timing.

Thanks to some fortunate timing, Hampton firefighters said they were able to avoid another widespread fire along Ocean Boulevard earlier this week.

Fire Prevention Officer Scott Steele said crews responded to medical aid call along Ocean Boulevard at about 1:43 p.m. Monday when one of the firefighters noticed there was smoke coming out of an alley near 99 Ocean Blvd.

Additional personnel responded to the scene, and Steele said his department was able to extinguish the fire in about two minutes, preventing all but some damage to a nearby building's vinyl siding.

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"If the Hampton Fire Department personnel were not already in close proximity to the fire the end results could have been far more severe," said Steele.

Steele said the fire, which started in a trash pile in the alley near an exit door, is still under investigation and has thus far been ruled an accident.

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The flames didn't extend into any nearby buildings, and caused no structure damage.

One reason why Steele said the fire could've been more severe is because there were multiple 55-gallon drums filled with cooking oil under a staircase "in close proximity" to where the fire started.

Steele urged residents and businesses to keep all exits clear, and said "all combustible and flammable material should never be stored under staircases," per state and local law.


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