Firefighters Battle Blaze at Easton's Beach

A wind-whipped fire tore through a row of bath houses at Easton's Beach Monday afternoon, causing significant damage to public restrooms and showers.

The fire broke out shortly after 3 p.m. and flames could be seen shooting from the roof and a column of smoke drifted out from the structure across the water.

The building, not yet open for the season, suffered substantial damage and firefighters cut into the roof to vent the flames, which were fed by steady winds.

"Wind was a factor," Dep. Fire Chief David Egan said.

Firefighters battled the blaze for about 40 minutes before it was put out.

Nobody was hurt in the blaze, which remains under investigation. Crews were still at the scene as of 5:30 p.m.

Police blocked off portions of Memorial Boulevard as firefighters attacked the blaze.

Live video of the fire was available at Lila Delman's Web cam. 

Easton's Beach is a three quarters of a mile stretch of beach along Memorial Boulevard and a popular Newport destination right at the start of the famed Cliff Walk.