NORFOLK, Va. — A home in Ocean View was "burned to the ground" after a two-alarm fire broke out Sunday afternoon.
According to the Norfolk Fire Department, the fire was reported around 2:42 p.m. on 9500 15th Bay Street. When crews arrived, they found a home fully engulfed in flames.
"The heat was so intense. It hit you as soon as you turned to walk down the street," according to one witness, Sue Haut.
"The flames shot up at least 40'," she continued. "NFD worked like clockwork knocking out the fire."
One woman, 22-year-old Ori, told 13News Now her grandmother and parents live across the street from the home that burned down. She said she jumped into action when she noticed the smoke coming from the neighbor’s home.
When she got there, she called 911 and started banging on the neighbor's front door.
"She opens the door, and I’m just like, ‘Your house is on fire,'" Ori said. "I grabbed her by the waist. I’m like, ‘Yeah, we got to go.'”
Ori said the fire got so large that she and her family had to run for cover.
"It sounds like fireworks are going. You’re hearing booms, cracks, and now we’re seeing parts of the house fly over,” she recounted.
Siding from homes across the street melted off, and the plumes of smoke could be seen from miles away.
“I saw the fire from Hampton coming across the HRBT. Came down here. Heard multiple explosions,” said Christina, whose daughter lives on 15th Bay Street.
Nobody was injured, but four additional houses were damaged in addition to the home that burned down.
Standing next to the rubble and ash, Ori said it was heartbreaking that her neighbors lost their home. But, she said things could’ve ended much worse.
“This is like a family out here. And the most important thing is that everybody is okay,” Ori said.
Massive Fire in Ocean View
The fire was under control in roughly two hours, and the cause is still under investigation.