VIDEO: Fire engulfs Manteo Furniture & Appliance Warehouse

MANNS HARBOR, N.C. (WAVY) — After a three-alarm fire engulfed and destroyed the Manteo Furniture & Appliance Warehouse in Manns Harbor Tuesday, its owner vowed to rebuild.

WAVY-TV 10’s Drone caught the aftermath of the fire in the video below.

Dare County dispatch confirmed emergency personnel responded to a fire at the Manteo Furniture & Appliance Warehouse around 4 p.m. Crews from Dare County, as well as Currituck and Tyrell counties, were also at the scene.

Ken Daniels, owner of Manteo Furniture & Appliance, posted to Facebook that the fire “destroyed our Manns Harbor warehouse, but there were no injuries to employees, neighbors or firefighters.”

When WAVY News 10 talked with Daniels Wednesday, he said the warehouse only stores upholstered furniture along with bedding and dining furniture. All of the store’s appliances and bedding are kept in a separate warehouse in Wanchese.

“Upholstery takes longer to get, so it’ll take a little longer to get that,” Daniels said. “We’ve talked with some vendors and they’re going to give us high priority and rush them to us.”

The store itself has been there since 1945, with Ken Daniels being the third generation owner. He was amazed at the outpouring of support he saw from the community in the immediate aftermath of the fire.

“Been getting calls from customers, family and friends, it’s just been unreal, from Facebook and texts.”

He said firefighters had a difficult time battling the blaze without municipal water, though he noted that “water would have unlikely ma[d]e a difference in the outcome, but would have made their job easier.”

Spoke with the owner of Valentino Custom Boats Manuel Estrella, who was inside his business, when the fire occurred, it is directly next to Manteo Warehouse. “Only thing I can say is we lost a lot, I’m sure the other business lost even more, but we are in shock.” @WAVY_News pic.twitter.com/urBRoGj7GF

— Cortez Grayson (@_cjg1124) February 28, 2024

Valentino Custom Boats’ Manuel Estrella was inside his business when the fire occurred. His business is next to Manteo Furniture & Appliance Warehouse.

“Only thing I can say is we lost a lot,” Estrella said. “I’m sure the other business lost even more, but we are in shock.”

Dare County Fire Marshal Steve Kovacs confirmed to WAVY-TV 10 that it was a three-alarm fire. One person was inside the warehouse when the fire started, but that person made it out and called 911, Kovacs said.

Dare County Emergency Director Drew Pearson said crews responded just after 4 p.m., and the fire is under control. He said multiple crews responded to the warehouse at 6300 US-64 in Manns Harbor.

Pearson said currently, there is no known cause for the fire.

The warehouse is located off of U.S. Highway 64 in the Manns Harbor area.

Photos and video from WAVY viewer Shawn Pasley show thick smoke and flames at the warehouse and multiple fire crews at the scene fighting the fire.

Currituck County Department of Fire and EMS said it sent Engine 66, Battalion 106, MAB 10, Captain 101 and Corolla Fire & Rescue Squad’s Rehab 6 to the scene, operating under an aid request for Dare County in Manns Harbor.