NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – Local firefighters responded to a fire late Tuesday night in Norfolk.
According to dispatchers, firefighters were called to the 7600 block of Merritt Street in Norfolk around 11:12 p.m. for the report of a fire. When crews arrived, they found heavy fire coming from the home.
A mangled, metal door, discarded water hose and melted chairs–identifiable debris left over after flames tore through the home.
Ron Lee lives next door and was about to go to bed.
“All of a sudden I’ve seen all of these fire engines coming in and I looked out the window and it was right next door,” Lee told 10 On Your Side.
He counted seven fire trucks lining his street by 11:15 p.m.
“It took about an hour, but every time they put one fire out, another flame seemed to pop up somewhere else so they had to keep chasing,” Lee said.
His neighbors, Lee said, made it out safely. They told Lee the fire started in the kitchen.
“Nobody was in the kitchen doing any cooking or anything,” Lee said. “He said that’s where the fire started.”
Quincee Smith lives a few houses down and said she heard several homes setting off fireworks around 9 p.m. Some were right next to her house.
“Kids like to set them off in the street,” Smith said. “They can hit your car so I think its kind of stupid doing it in the street.”
When she learned of the fire, she told us she wasn’t surprised and believes fireworks may have started the fire.
“I’m not surprised because that’s what happens when people set off fireworks in the street near people’s houses and people’s houses get burnt down,” Smith said. “I think they should be very cautious about what they’re doing.”
Officials said the fire was marked under control at 11:57 p.m. and there were no injuries to either civilians or firefighters.
Three people were displaced as a result of the fire and the Red Cross is assisting them.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.
