Fire officials rule fire that gutted Oceana Self-Storage units in Virginia Beach, accidental
VBFD: Three firefighters treated, released from hospital for heat exhaustion
WAVY News Staff Published: July 7, 2016, 11:12 am Updated: July 8, 2016, 2:26 pm
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Fire officials have ruled a fire that started inside a storage unit before spreading and destroying several other units nearby accidental.
Fire investigators say they responded to Oceana Self-Storage just before 11 a.m. Thursday. Upon arrival, firefighters say they saw heavy smoke and fire coming from Building 8 at the complex.
Anthony Coley says he has rented three units at Ocean Self-Storage for the last decade. On Thursday morning, he says he was making repairs to his 1978 Cavalier when the carburetor backfired.
“When the carburetor caught on fire, the fuel air filter and all of that caught on fire,” said Coley. “The carburetor was flooded out and the fire just spread.”
A few seconds later, Coley says his gas tank exploded. He says he emptied two fire extinguishers on the vehicle, but it provided little relief.
“It was a big boom and big ball of fire,” said Coley. “After that, I knew I couldn’t do anything.”
The Virginia Beach Fire Department says crews battled the blaze for more than one hour as the flames ripped through cars, furniture and industrial supplies inside the units.
“Everything you could imagine in there to fuel a fire is in there,” said Art Kohn, a fire department spokesman. “However that fire started, it did not have any trouble keeping going.”
Coley says he lost three cars, tools and 20 years worth of collectibles between the three units that he shares with friends. He estimates his losses at more than $100,000.
“I don’t know what else to do. I’ve cried all I could,” said Coley. “I’ve cried all day, so ain’t no more crying to do.”
Fire officials say three firefighters were treated and released from the hospital after showing signs of heat exhaustion.
Temperatures reached 95 degrees in Virginia Beach around Noon on Thursday with a heat index of 108-degrees.
Fire officials tweeted shortly after 12 p.m. Thursday that crews deemed the fire under control.
The VBFD says there is no longer lingering threat to the environment or the public from the fire. This after initial concerns about the propane tanks on the scene and the runoff from water used to fight the fire.
The property manager at Oceana Self-Storage tells 10 On Your Side all tenants are required to have insurance.
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