Home a ‘total loss’ after morning fire in Hampton, official says

A home in the Coliseum Central area of Hampton is considered a “total loss” after fire burned through it Wednesday morning, an official said.

Firefighters and medics responded to the home in the first block of Inglewood Drive just after 4 a.m. and found heavy flames coming from the back of the structure, Hampton Fire & Rescue Battalion Chief Mick Barilla said at the scene.

“Fire was coming over the back side of the house, probably about 20 feet, 30 feet in the air,” Barilla said.

The residents were alerted to the fire by a smoke alarm in the hallway, he said, and they were outside when crews arrived.

Firefighters started with a transitional attack, which is hitting the fire from the outside until it is safe to go inside, he said. Crews were then able to enter the home and attack the fire from the interior. It took about 20 minutes to get the fire under control and 30 minutes to put it out, Barilla said.

Four adults, one child and two dogs were displaced by the fire, he said. The American Red Cross is assisting the family.

The residents of the home told firefighters they had recently used an outside grill and suspected the fire started there, Barilla said. However, the origin and cause of the fire is still under investigation, he said.