GASTONIA, NC — The Gastonia Fire Marshal’s Office says a business fire that left three injured, including a firefighter, was accidental.
The fire happened around 4:16pm on Wednesday at Roechling Engineered Plastics on Roechling Street. Officials say the one story structure fire broke out in the rear of the building and took crews about 30 minutes to extinguish.
Two employees were taken to Caromont Regional Medical Center with second-degree burns, officials say, and one firefighter was also taken with heat related injuries.
Investigators say the fire has been ruled accidental. It reportedly started when an auger fell into electrical wiring, which created a spark that ignited nearby materials used in the plant.
Officials say the plants machinery was heavily damaged due to the fire.
