Ocean Highway West lanes reopen following fire near Calabash

CALABASH, N.C. (WECT) - The Calabash Fire Department announced just before 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18, that Ocean Highway West was shut down in both directions as crews battled a structure fire.

Ocean Highway West reopened just after 6 p.m., according to the fire department.

“Fortunately there were no injuries as Calabash firefighters and their mutual aid partners battled a fiercely burning and smoky structure fire this afternoon,” a CFD release states. “The fire was reported just before 4pm on the southbound side of Ocean Highway West just north of the SC state line. Arriving units found a fully-involved blaze with heavy black smoke and flames reaching up into the surrounding trees. Units from Calabash, Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle Beach and Grissettown Longwood fire departments were able to quickly contain the fire, but spent a number of hours dousing hot spots.

“Both north and southbound traffic on Ocean Highway had to be diverted while a supply hose was stretched across the road from a hydrant on the opposite side. The structure, which turned out to be a large abandoned storage building belonging to a former golf driving range at that location, was a total loss. Our firefighters were also assisted on the scene by personnel from the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office and Brunswick County EMS, as well as Horry County firefighters who stood by and covered our station. The Brunswick County fire marshal’s office also responded to the scene, and the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.”

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