Deadly fire breaks out at construction site in SouthPark area of Charlotte

Table Of Content

• Update: 2 workers killed as massive fire destroys SouthPark apartment building under construction
• Procession to Catawba County honors fallen corrections officer
• Charlotte fire: 2 unaccounted for, 15 rescued as crews battle five-alarm blaze in SouthPark
• WCNC would like to send you push notifications about the latest news and weather.
• President Biden visits families of officers killed in Charlotte
• Law Enforcement Officers Are Shot in Charlotte

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.

Update: 2 workers killed as massive fire destroys SouthPark apartment building under construction

The fourth officer killed during the shooting Monday was identified by the U.S. The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction identified Sam Poloche and Alden Elliott as two of the other killed officers. Both Poloche and Elliott were 14-year veterans of the agency.

Procession to Catawba County honors fallen corrections officer

(WBTV) - Leaders from the City of Charlotte provided media with an update regarding Thursday’s massive SouthPark fire on Friday afternoon. Johnson said the mostly wooden-frame apartment building caught fire quickly. "His family said he was a hard worker, a loving father and a family man," said Lyles. "We grieve with you, especially with Mr. Sherill's children." SouthPark Mall was closed due to the proximity of the fire and motorists were advised to stay away from the area as several roads were closed.

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

Thursday at an apartment complex that was under construction. When Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over the scene, our crews spotted one construction worker stuck at the top of a crane that was over the apartment building. Charlotte Fire Chief Reginald Johnson said firefighters rescued 15 workers from the building, including one who was on a crane. Paramedics said he was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

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. CHARLOTTE — A massive fire broke out Thursday morning at an apartment complex under construction in the SouthPark area of Charlotte, killing at least one person.

The blaze also involved a building in a construction zone which partially collapsed, the Charlotte Observer reported. Within hours of the fire breaking out, firefighters said 15 people were rescued, but two were unaccounted for. Walter Morris said his nephew was in a construction crane above the site and could not get down initially because the flames were so high. "And that could expand the fire much quicker than you can see on the outside than inside," Johnson said. "And when you start to see the amount of black smoke coming out of that building - Our firefighters will tell you that black smoke is fuel." Both men were part of the construction crew working on the upscale apartment buildings when the fire broke out.

Johnson said the initial investigation shows the fire started in a spray foam insulation truck, and appears to be accidental. “The men and women of this department put themselves in harm’s way and actually had to call for assistance themselves to get out of this fire. That’s how fast it was moving,” Fire Chief Reginald Johnson said.

Charred remains of building remind residents of deadly SouthPark fire - WSOC Charlotte

Charred remains of building remind residents of deadly SouthPark fire.

Posted: Fri, 02 Jun 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

“Obviously, the building's still in a state where it is not safe for all of our members to go in,” Johnson said. The chief said investigators aren't sure what set off the blaze and haven't been able to do a thorough investigation of the trailer. Investigators think the fire started in a trailer used to spray insulation into the building's walls, Johnson said. "The fire spread rapidly," Johnson said at the news conference Friday. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. This is a breaking news story, check back for updates.

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, who spoke at Monday's news conference, said the community must honor the deputy marshals who lost their lives and the wounded officers. The city's police chief announced Monday night that a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer who had been wounded, Joshua Eyer, had also died. Demonte Sherrill was one of the two construction workers who were unaccounted for immediately after the fire. A construction worker said the seven-story building was set to become an apartment community called Modera SouthPark, according to WCNC.

Officials believe two people fired at law enforcement, Jennings said. Most of the flames were out by noon as firefighters continued to put out hot spots as several roads in the area remained closed. Demonte Sherrill’s father, Terry Campbell, said he rushed to the scene after Onita Sherrill told him about the fire. One person has been seriously injured as a result of the fire, Queen City News reports. "Then firefighters climbed over 100 feet up the crane to help rescue the operator who had begun climbing down," the official added. National building code allows for up to five floors of residential buildings to be constructed using fire retardant wood.

Police were eventually able to clear the home, Jennings said. Two people inside, one of them 17 years old, were detained as persons of interest. "It was just last month I was in this very room congratulating Officer Eyer for becoming officer of the month in April," Police Chief Johnny Jennings said. "And he certainly dedicated his life and gave his life to serve our citizens." The fire started on the second floor, according to witnesses. “I was hoping but just from the (Facebook Live), and the way the room filled up with smoke, I didn’t see it being any hope at that time,” she said.

"It was news they'd hoped would never come. North Carolina and this country lost four heroes and saw four other heroes wounded." The CMPD SWAT team and MEDIC's mass casualty unit were among those who responded to the shooting scene. After officers shot Hughes, SWAT negotiated with the others inside the home. But as of Thursday afternoon, two workers who were in the area of the construction site where the fire initially broke out remain unaccounted for, the newspaper added.

Johnson thanked fire departments in Pineville, Midland, Wesley Chapel, and Steele Creek for covering Charlotte calls while Charlotte firefighters were in SouthPark. Charlotte Fire said 90 firefighters responded to the scene. One user on Twitter, @TheHomeT, shared a video of the smoke plume emanating from the fire. "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. Another witness spoke to Monreal about what happened when the fire started. For the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts, download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app.