CAROLINA BEACH — A criminal investigation has been opened regarding a fire in the Carolina Beach condominium building that the town recently evacuated and condemned.
The fire departments of Carolina Beach and Kure Beach, as well as Carolina Beach Police, responded to a fire at the empty Carolina Surf Condos, 201 Carolina Beach Ave. South, just after 3:20 a.m. Thursday, according to a press release from the town.
“Emergency personnel were able to quickly contain the fire,” the release states.
The fire damaged the south side of the building, mostly inside a maintenance room. The building was empty and no injuries were reported.
The condominium building was evacuated due to structural concerns in the late evening of Friday, July 1. The building was near full occupancy at the time, due to the pending holiday. Officials said they feared the building could collapse due to severe rusting of the metal framework.
“A criminal investigation is underway, due to suspicious circumstances surrounding the fire,” the release states. “The investigation is ongoing and additional information will be released as it becomes available.”
