Community Paying After Recycling Center Fire
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CHARLOTTE, NC — The heat was a major concern for firefighters who spent more than 30 hours battling a recycling plant fire in West Charlotte.
The flames were gone by Thursday evening, but families and a nearby business are recovering from the fire that didn’t even touch their buildings.
“It was a pretty horrific fire,” said Director of Child’s Choice Daycare Michele Partee, “It was very large and we’re pretty close.”
Firefighters soaked debris from the Caraustar Carolina’s Recycling Center fire, searching for hidden embers.
Partee’s daycare was closed for the second day leaving six employees out of work and 29 families left to find child care.
“The smoke was very think and putrid, and the smell starting to come inside,” said Partee.
The daycare spent hundreds of dollars to replace food and milk after nearly 20 hours with no electricity.
Temperatures neared 100 degrees outside Wednesday. Thursday, Duke restored power and families returned home from hotels.
“We could not be without electricity,” said Shirley Rose. “That’s something we could not be without.”
At the fire’s peak, Rose watched nearly 150 men and women battle burning boxes. Three were hospitalized for heat exhaustion. 35 were in and out of medic buses receiving IV fluids.
“I can’t even imagine what they were going through,” said Rose.
A manager at Caraustar says employees are okay. They helped move debris Thursday afternoon while crews of 20 firefighters rotated out of the heat.
“These crews will still have to work another 12 to 14 hours,” said Bat. Chief Keith Rogers, “So, we have to make sure they’re well taken care of.”
Preliminary investigations show a machine sparked that fire.
However, with the Charlotte area nearing drought conditions, firefighters warn dry grass could fuel any flames.
“Please start thinking thinking about your actions and what you’re doing and how it’s going to affect other people,” said Rose.
