NEW INFO: Massive Surf City fire cause 'undetermined'

Fire officials say they may likely never know what caused a massive fire that destroyed seven waterfront homes in Surf City.

Fire Chief Allen Wilson says the cause is undetermined and will likely remain that way unless new information comes in.

The seven homes were on Atkinston Road which runs along the Intracoastal Waterway.

The fire first broke out around 6:00 p.m. Sunday and it took some 50 firefighters from multiple counties to bring it under control around midnight or 1:00 a.m. The chief said the fire was fully out until 9:00 a.m. this morning.

No one was hurt in the blaze and only two of the homes had people inside. The chief isn't sure how many of the seven homes had permanent residents.

Tax records show the seven homes were worth around $1.5 million dollars. That figure does not include tax value for the land itself.

Atkinson Road reopened to traffic by midafternoon.

Surf City fire officials have confirmed to WITN that seven units are destroyed after Sunday's fire.

Chief Allen Wilson says there was minor damage to an eighth unit.

The SBI, ATF, North Carolina Fire Marshal, Pender County Fire Marshal, and Surf City Fire Marshal are all investigating. Nobody was hurt, but the cause is still under investigation.

Multiple crews are on scene after a large fire broke out on Atkinson Road near South Shore Drive in Surf City.

Surf City Fire Chief Allen Wilson confirms crews from Topsail Fire, North Topsail Fire and Pender County were all working the scene.

A tweet from Surf City police advised people to stay away from the area while emergency responders work.

Officials have not released how many structures are involved or if anyone has been injured.

Photos sent in by viewers show multiple buildings engulfed in flames. Dramatic video shows flames curling over the roof of a three story house and plumes of black smoke coming from the structures as the fire burns.