Charlotte officials confirm fatalities in massive fire

Table Of Content

• Charlotte fire: 2 unaccounted for, 15 rescued as crews battle five-alarm blaze in SouthPark
• Photos & Videos
• Officials Release Names Of Construction Workers Killed In SouthPark Fire
• Five-alarm fires in Charlotte
• Live Nation offers $25 concert tickets for select shows; See the list of performers
• The Aftermath Of Monday's Deadly Shooting Shows A Damaged Neighborhood And A Heartbroken Community

Speaking outside the smoking building, the fire quickly engulfed the site even as workers fled. Johnson said the mostly wooden-frame apartment building caught fire quickly. Fire investigators have confirmed the fire began accidentally. The fire was started by a trailer that was spraying insulation material as part of the construction efforts. When conditions changed, the rescuers transmitted their own distress call and another company of firefighters was dispatched to rescue the first group.

Massive fire breaks out in SouthPark area of Charlotte - wpde.com

Massive fire breaks out in SouthPark area of Charlotte.

Posted: Thu, 18 May 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Charlotte fire: 2 unaccounted for, 15 rescued as crews battle five-alarm blaze in SouthPark

Firefighters called two maydays because crews got trapped or had issues with accessing means of escaping, Johnson said. (WBTV) - Two people were injured in a two-alarm fire in south Charlotte on Sunday, according to Medic. An investigation determined that the fire started due to a grill on the second-floor balcony.

Photos & Videos

One person had to be rescued after becoming trapped atop a crane. That person was later rescued by Charlotte firefighters and was transported by Medic with non-life-threatening injuries. By Thursday evening, not much of the apartment building remained. Many of the construction workers said there were crews on every floor of the building.

Officials Release Names Of Construction Workers Killed In SouthPark Fire

The fire started on the second floor, according to witnesses. Demonte Sherrill’s father, Terry Campbell, said he rushed to the scene after Onita Sherrill told him about the fire. Fire officials struck a fifth alarm shortly before 10 a.m. (WBTV) - The Charlotte Fire Department has identified the two men killed in the massive construction fire in south Charlotte’s SouthPark neighborhood last week. Download the WBTV News app for any new updates and breaking news alerts. He said fire crews have remained on scene since Thursday morning, but companies could potentially return to their stations Friday evening.

‘A good man’: Father of 4 dies in construction site fire in SouthPark, family says - WSOC Charlotte

‘A good man’: Father of 4 dies in construction site fire in SouthPark, family says.

Posted: Thu, 18 May 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Photos tweeted by the department show flames and heavy black smoke shooting out of what appears to be a residential building under construction as crews attempt to battle the blaze. Another company of firefighters battled dangerous flames in order to successfully rescue a worker trapped atop a construction crane. Before that worker could climb down, firefighters brought him "protective equipment" to help him manage the intense heat of the crane and its ladder during his descent.

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles identified one as Demonte Sherill, a father of four. The blaze also involved a building in a construction zone which partially collapsed, the Charlotte Observer reported. WCNC Charlotte is committed to reporting on the issues facing the communities we serve.

"We watched it start to smoke gradually, and then we saw the smoke get bigger, and then, initially, the front of the building caught on fire," the witness described. At that point, they knew they needed to get everyone out. Workers told Channel 9′s Hunter Sáenz many people started yelling “fire” to do what they could to tell everyone to evacuate. But the flames just got too bad and they had to make a run for it themselves.

Live Nation offers $25 concert tickets for select shows; See the list of performers

Demonte Sherrill was one of the two construction workers who were unaccounted for immediately after the fire. Firefighters were able to rescue a crane operator who had been trapped high above the smoke and flames. Within an hour of starting, the fire was escalated to a five-alarm situation.

They said when the flames sparked, the workers themselves tried to put out the fire. But because of how quickly it spread, it was impossible for the workers to get it under control. Video released by the department shows flames and smoke billowing from a structure in the 7700 block of Liberty Row Drive. Fifteen people, including a crane operator, were rescued by firefighters Thursday. The two people who died in the 2,000-degree fire were believed to be on the sixth floor of a building before flames tore through the area, officials said. The crane operator, among the 15 people rescued by firefighters, was treated by local EMS for non life-threatening injuries and taken to a hospital, fire officials reported.

NC Occupation Safety and Health (OSHA) has begun an investigation. Charlotte firefighters at the scene said a number of federal agencies are also on standby to assist with the investigation. As a precautionary measure, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools said all students and staff stayed inside with doors and windows closed to minimize exposure to smoke. The district also stated that road closures impacted transportation routes home. A full list of impacted bus routes and schools can be found here.

The cloud of smoke from the fire was so thick it was registering on the radar. WCNC Charlotte Forecaster Larry Sprinkle said, due to the smoke, the air quality skyrocketed to the "very unhealthy" level. Sprinkle strongly encouraged everyone to stay inside because the dense smoke is in the air, and experts aren't aware yet what is in the smoke chemical-wise.

We tell the stories of people working to solve persistent social problems. We examine how problems can be solved or addressed to improve the quality of life and make a positive difference. Large clouds of smoke and flames shot hundreds of feet in the air from the area of Barclay Downs Drive and Fairview Road, near SouthPark Mall. Officials said firefighters were tasked with extinguishing the "very fast-moving" fire, which was over 2,000 degrees. We are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of the two people who were missing in the construction fire that took place yesterday.

According to its website, Modera SouthPark is a wood-frame, podium-style community consisting of twin buildings that make up more than 200 apartment homes. They noticed the side of the building was smoking, so they started yelling out of the window, but the firefighters couldn't hear them. The witness said, at that point, they started taking video of the smoke. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is asking people to avoid the SouthPark area so their crews can respond to the fire efficiently. Drivers are being asked by CMPD to avoid Liberty Drive, Assembly Street, Barclay Downs Drive and Park South Drive until all flames are contained. By 6 p.m., Fairview Road was reopened during the congested evening commute.