Flames tore through a former blueberry processing facility south of Cornelius Wednesday morning, collapsing part of the roof before firefighters could knock the blaze down. No injuries were reported, and the cause remains unknown.
Crews were called to the two-alarm fire at a commercial building in the 2200 block of Southwest Lafollett Road, according to KPTV. Firefighters found flames burning inside a 100-square-foot concrete block structure at the site, as reported by KOIN, which identified the property as a former blueberry processing facility.
Accounts of the crews' response time differ slightly. KOIN reported crews reached the scene on Southwest Lafollett Road around 7:15 a.m., while KPTV reported the Cornelius Fire Department said crews responded just before 7 a.m. Either way, firefighters quickly shifted tactics once they assessed the structure.
Crews Fight the Blaze From Outside
Rather than entering the burning building, crews went defensive, battling the flames from the exterior. Water tenders were brought in to keep up the fight, the station's report noted, as firefighters worked to beat back the fire from a distance while the structure deteriorated around them.
That caution appears to have paid off. The roof partially collapsed by the time the fire was brought under control, per the same account, but no firefighters or bystanders were hurt in the incident.
Cause Still Undetermined, Area Avoidance Urged
Investigators have not said what sparked the fire. Details of how it started remain unknown, according to the KOIN report, leaving the origin of the blaze an open question for now.
While crews worked the scene, the public was asked to avoid the area, a request KPTV relayed as the response continued Wednesday morning. KATU likewise covered the response as a developing story early Wednesday, underscoring how quickly the two-alarm call drew multiple crews to the rural stretch of road south of Cornelius.
