Person airlifted to UNC Hospitals after another large fire at Ocean Isle Beach

The Ocean Isle Beach Fire Department and Horry County, S.C., firefighters responded to multiple house fires around 1:15 a.m. on Concord Street.

Witnesses said the fire started in a car beneath a home, then it spread to all of the homes around it.

""[I] heard a big explosion. I thought maybe it was fireworks, ran out - he said ‘it's a fire. Call 911’," recounted Cami Chewing-Barefoot, a witness to the fire.

Everyone was able to get out, but one man was hospitalized. WECT News reported the person was airlifted to UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill.

The Barefoot family, who are from Raleigh, were cleaning up hurricane damage in their vacation home two doors down when the fire broke out.

"I yelled. I tried to get all the neighbors out, there was a good crowd over there," said Don Barefoot. "Only one guy came out and he said he was the only one. He looked like he was burned from his arms all the way to his hands."

Three other homes suffered minor damage.

Cathy Allen Gunter, from Cary, was visiting her mom, who lives across the street. She said she was getting ready to go to bed when she heard some noises, looked out and saw a glow. When she went outside, she realized the noise she heard was an explosion from the fire.

"I went, 'Oh no, not again,'" she said.

Gunther said neighbors were checking on each other, and it appeared that everyone else got outside unharmed.

The Barefoots are still shaken by what they witnessed.

"We're glad we're here. We're sorry what happened to everyone, but we're glad we're safe. We really didn't know what the outcome was going to be," said Chewning-Barefoot.

Mayor Smith is asking anyone if they have flooded vehicles whether it's a car or golf cart beneath their homes to please remove it.

Ocean Isle Beach was one of the hardest-hit areas when Isaias slammed North Carolina late Monday and Tuesday. The storm made landfall near Ocean Isle as a Category 1 hurricane before moving up the state, affecting much of central and eastern North Carolina.

Ocean Isle Beach residents in disbelief over destruction caused by fire during hurricane

Residents said a an electrical transformer exploded early Tuesday during the hurricane, sparking the fires.

Smith said the fires, damage and now an injury are heartbreaking, but her community is strong.

“I just tell them to stay strong and watch out for each other," she said. "I’ve been here long enough, I’ve grown up with this community. I know an awful lot about these people, it’s devastating and heartbreaking.”

Hurricane Isaias moved out of North Carolina Tuesday afternoon, and while strong rip currents remain a threat at the coast, storm-force winds are no longer present.