VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Eight people were displaced after a fire destroyed several mobile homes in Virginia Beach early Tuesday morning.
The Virginia Beach Fire Department said it happened at the Colonial Run Mobile Home Park, which is located on Baker Road close to Northampton Boulevard. Firefighters responded around 2:50 a.m. and arrived minutes later.
The fire destroyed four mobile homes at the park, but no one was hurt. Investigators are out there looking into what caused it.
“It was very scary I was shaking all over,” said Cathy Essert who lives just feet away from where the fire happened. “I really thought it was going to come over here.”
The fire left minimal damage to her mobile home but major damage to four other homes at the mobile home park.
“I heard what sounded like gunshots," said neighbor Christopher Kraft. "I peeked my head outside the door and saw what looked like fireworks. So, I thought someone was just shooting off fireworks.”
He said he watched as crews battled the flames.
“Shortly after the trucks got here, a few tanks exploded and flames just shot straight up into the air,” Kraft said.
“So that’s why I threw my valuables in the back of my car and went down the street,” Essert said.
As those displaced families are working to salvage what they can from their homes and figure out the next steps, Kraft said he wants to step up and lend a helping hand.
“I work at a hotel and I’ve reached out to my general manager and she’s willing to work with people,” he said.
Ultimately, neighbors are happy everyone is okay.
“That was the one thing I was really worried about," Essert said. "Because this guy had a child, this guy has a new child. It was very scary.”
Fire officials said crews had the fire under control around 3:30 a.m. They said the fire was out just before 5 a.m.
According to the fire department, the Red Cross wasn't needed to help the people affected by the fire.