'Heartbroken': 338-year-old Veranda House sustains $12M of damage from fire
NANTUCKET — After a devastating fire destroyed the 338-year-old Veranda House, management plans to restore the popular hotel.
"We look forward to clearing the ashes, rebuilding the Veranda House and creating a new legacy for future generations to enjoy," wrote the team in a statement posted on the hotel's Facebook page.
The bed-and-breakfast on Step Lane was gutted in a fast-moving fire on July 9.
The Veranda House, the nearby Chapman House, the Regatta Inn and Arbor Cottage, are collectively known as the Nantucket Resort Collection. In 2019, the group of upscale hotels was acquired by the Rhode Island real estate investment and management company Procaccianti Companies.
Earlier: Fire destroys Veranda House in downtown Nantucket; other buildings damaged
Siblings James A. Procaccianti, president and CEO, and Elizabeth A. Procaccianti, chief operations officer, lead the company.
In an email to the Times, spokesperson Ralph V. Izzi Jr. declined an interview request on behalf of the company, saying it is "still in the very early stages" of its redevelopment plans.
Fire causes millions in damages
The fire left behind $12 million in estimated damages and the hotel's skeleton has been demolished, Nantucket Deputy Fire Chief Sean Mitchell said.
Related: First lady Jill Biden thanks Nantucket firefighters for efforts during hotel fire
When asked for a cause of the fire, Massachusetts Department of Fire Services spokesperson Jake Wark said a joint investigation by Nantucket and state fire investigators determined the fire was accidental. The most likely cause was the improper disposal of smoking materials, he said.
Nantucket Fire Chief Stephen Murphy previously told the Cape Cod Times it seemed a person was smoking on the first-floor deck and throwing their "discarded smoking materials" down below where the trash was kept.
'Resilience, courage and hope'
In the statement posted to the Veranda House's Facebook page, the management team called itself "heartbroken by the tragic loss of the...community treasure.
"We also want to express our deepest sorrow to our guests who lost possessions and to our neighbors whose homes were lost or damaged in the fire."
Two other buildings were also destroyed in the fire.
Stories of heroism emerged in the aftermath. Off-duty fire Capt. Nate Barber had been about two blocks away waiting for coffee, when he saw plumes of smoke. He made his way into the burning hotel and found a young couple, guiding them to safety.
'Total loss': Veranda House fire on Nantucket leaves residents and workers shaken
He later re-entered the building with another Good Samaritan to make certain everyone had left.
Soon, the Veranda House will honor the private citizens, municipal employees, and volunteers who risked their lives to save others. The hotel's statement also called attention to "the generosity of our fellow hospitality proprietors on the Island and the local businesses who took great efforts to assist our guests and all of us on a moment's notice.
"We are deeply grateful to the members of the community whose heroism and selflessness showed why Nantucket is so special," the statement reads.
Zane Razzaq writes about housing and real estate. Reach her at zrazzaq@wickedlocal.com. Follow her on Twitter @zanerazz.
This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Nantucket fire: Veranda House fire caused $12 million in damages
