Wind-Whipped Fire Rips Through Hyannis Harbor Hotel
HYANNIS (CBS) – A wind-whipped fire ripped through Hyannis Harbor Hotel Sunday afternoon, leaving the building heavily damaged. Fifty-five firefighters from 10 communities were called to help put the flames out.
The fire started around 2:30 p.m. at the hotel on Ocean Street. Winds close to 30 MPH were reported in the area at the time of the fire.
All of the guests made it out safely.
According to Fire Chief Peter Burke, the fire started in between the walls on the first floor. Flames were visible shooting from the building's roof.
"The wind pushed the fire really up the exterior walls of the building into the attic space and then fueled the fire in the attic space which is why there were some pretty spectacular images earlier in the fire. Certainly, the wind had a pretty substantial impact on our ability to rapidly extinguish it," Burke said.
American Red Cross of Massachusetts tweeted that it is responding to the scene to provide assistance, adding that an unknown number of adults and children have been displaced by the fire.
"It's just heartbreaking, this hotel has been here a real long time," one woman said.
"It's a shame for the area. This is a great area. All the restaurants are just opening up. After COVID-19 this is the last thing that this area needed," a man added.
Firefighters also put out a blaze at the hotel in 2016.
The cause is still under investigation.
