DARE COUNTY, N.C. — A massive fire was reported at the Manteo Furniture Warehouse Tuesday, a Dare County leader confirmed to 13News Now.
Carter Mann lives next to the warehouse he says the ordeal was something he’d never seen before.
“So we were just out in the yard and a little boy happened to look over and see some smoke he pointed it out anyway. I called 911 right then." Mann said.
The blaze ignited at around 3:30 p.m. before engulfing the nearly 10,000 square foot Manns Harbor location.
A county leader said it was upgraded to a 5-alarm fire, prompting crews from six Dare County agencies, Tyrrell County and Currituck County to all respond.
Mann says the inferno scared him and his family.
"Really I started panicking; A big propane tank not very far behind the bill was really worried about some stuff blowing up.” Mann said.
Shortly before 7:30 p.m., Dare County Emergency Management Director Drew Pearson told 13News Now operations were winding down. The incident commander, however, remained at the scene.
Mann says his family has been here for decades and he is thankful no one got hurt.
"I’ve Lived here my whole life 32 years. My dad lost his barn right beside the building. But thank the Lord, it didn't get anybody's houses.” Mann said.
No injuries have been reported.
The cause has not been determined. An investigation will take place.
Photos of the scene show black smoke filling the sky, with large flames coming from the warehouse.
