SALISBURY, N.C. -- Smoke was billowing from a scrap yard in east Spencer for hours Wednesday after a van caught fire and ignited a large pile of cars in the yard on fire.

  • Fire reached up to 15 feet in height
  • One firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion
  • A shelter has been set up at the Hurley YMCA for those in need

About 125 firefighters from all over the Rowan County area responded to the five-alarm call to help contain and get the fire under control on North Long Street.

Employees at Holmes Iron and Metal say they tried to get the fire under control themselves, but it quickly reached about 13-15 feet in height.

Even though the fire was under control, crews say it could have been even worse.

“The biggest concern that we had was obviously a substation nearby. We also had a hazardous materials tank of liquid oxygen that was under pressure and was full. We focused our attention on protecting those two exposures,” Salisbury Fire Department Battalion Chief David Morris said.

One firefighter had to be treated for heat exhaustion.

Duke Energy says about 1,400 customers lost power due to the fire and a shelter has been set up at the Hurley YMCA in Salisbury for residents in need.

 

 

 

 

 

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