Firefighters in New Hampshire battled a five-alarm fire last night that started at the Surf Hotel in Hampton Beach. The blaze spread and tore through four more buildings before firefighters were able to bring it under control.

The Hampton Beach area draws a crowd every summer and tourism is an integral part of the region’s economy. Keep reading to find out more about the extent of the damage.

The fire started just after midnight and spread quickly with the help of whipping 60 mph winds. Many of the buildings that line Hampton Beach’s oceanfront strip were built with wood frames, very close to each other, which aided the spread of the inferno.

A total of 125 firefighters from three states appeared on the scene to subdue the blaze. They initially attacked the fire from the inside, but eventually had to retreat outside because of the intensity of the flames, heavy winds, and the age of the building.

Within an hour, the fire destroyed five buildings, including the hotel, an arcade, and other seasonal businesses.

The cause is still unknown at this point, but firefighters were responding to other storm-related emergencies earlier in the evening.

According to the fire department, the block has been wiped out by fire a couple times in the past hundred years.

Find out: What to Do in Case of a Hotel Fire

Costa Cruise Ship Crashes in Egypt

Three crew members were killed when the Costa Europa cruise ship collided with a pier during stormy, windy weather.

The ship was sailing on an 18-day cruise from Dubai to Savona, Italy and crashed while attempting to dock at the port of Sharm El Sheik along the Red Sea.

The crash caused significant damage to the right side of the ship, which sprung a leak. The 1,437 passengers on board were quickly removed. No passengers were killed, but a few were injured.

It is unclear exactly what caused the accident, but Costa representatives say that exceptionally bad weather and unexpected gusts of wind were the likely causes and an investigation is underway.

PeterGreenberg.com Links:

• Travel Tip: What to Do in Case of Hotel Fire
• Hotels & Accommodations section
• Cruise Ship Sickness: Hundreds Fall Ill to Mystery Bug

By Dan Bence for PeterGreenberg.com