BOSTON -- High winds fueled a massive fire overnight in Hampton Beach, N.H.

NewsCenter 5's John Atwater said that firefighters were still dousing hot spots Friday afternoon.

"I saw smoke, sparks and flames shoot up," one witness said. "It was a small flame and then wind whipped, totally engulfed in no time flat."

"I was afraid they wouldn't be able to contain it. It took a while before I felt they had it under control," another witness said.

The fire's fury was fueled by an unrelenting wind. Gusts up to 60 mph carried the flames from building to building. The flames devoured five businesses and scarred up to 12 more.

"The wind is pushing fire almost horizontally to other businesses," Hampton Fire Department Chief Chris Silver said.

The fire stole memories from a family that's owned a business for decades.

"That's my whole family's business there -- three generations and it's gone," said Tim Gilbert, whose business was destroyed.

Mrs. Mitchell's gift shop has served the beach for as long as many residents can recall. It burned to the ground after investigators said the flames spread from the Surf Hotel.

"I don't know what we're going to do from here. I don't know," Gilbert said.

Officials said it could be several days before residents had power restored.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation.