NAGS HEAD, N.C. — A holiday staple in the Outer Banks was engulfed in a fire Friday afternoon.
A spokesperson for the Town of Nags Head said the Christmas Mouse store, located in 2400 block of South Croatan Highway, caught fire around 2 p.m. Photos from the scene show the building consumed in flames.
OBX Today also reports a wooded area next to the store also caught fire.
"We were about 100 feet away and we could feel the heat coming off the building," said Robert Baker, who works nearby.
The people of Nags Head came rushing out of their homes and businesses around in disbelief.
''I mean the whole office was totally upset and went outside. We could see the flames, the smoke pouring in the sky. It was horrible. All of us were just numb for this business," said Gail Gray who lives and works nearby.
Gray was worried the blaze would spread to the trees and other nearby structures.
"Because the winds were whipping up out here. I mean it was crazy," said Gray.
The highway almost came to a standstill as smoke billowed into the air for miles
"People started pulling in to look at the fire, keeping emergency vehicles from getting to the structure, which is very inconvenient," said Barker.
It was actually an employee of a local HVAC company, Harco Air, who first saw the flames. He happened to be doing work right next door at Outer Banks Dermatology. He ran across this parking lot, went inside, and told all the employees of the Christmas Mouse to get out.
"When you look at it, it's totally devastating, its amazing everyone got out and nobody got hurt," said resident Jeff Call.
The 8,000 square foot, nine room store, which has been a staple in Nags Head since 1987, is considered a total loss.
''It's like an icon. It's somewhere that people will go to, and its just part of the community," said Gray.
No injuries have been reported.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
