A fire breaks out in a building under construction in Charlotte, NC
High-rise crane operator is dramatically rescued from control cabin hundreds of feet high after massive fire breaks out at Charlotte construction site
A high-rise crane operator had to be rescued from flames and smoke when he became trapped as a fire broke out in a building under construction in Charlotte.
First responders say the fire broke out at 7700 block Liberty Row Dr. and video shows large plumes of smoke and flames near the building.
According to the Charlotte observerthe fire concerns a parking garage and construction zone.
Firefighters were actively controlling the inferno when it collapsed earlier due to the blaze.
The Charlotte Fire Department shared footage of the inferno on their social media
The building is difficult to see due to the dense thick black smoke that engulfed the area earlier this morning
Firefighters fought the blaze, with one firefighter reportedly being taken away by ambulance
At around 10:49 a.m., the crane operator was rescued after spending nearly an hour above the flames. Their condition at the moment remains unknown.
No information is available on any injuries, but paramedics confirmed they were on the scene along with police and firefighters.
According to WSCO, paramedics had begun to transport people on stretchers and load them into ambulances. One person was reportedly a firefighter.
Construction crews told the news outlet that the fire is believed to have been started by chemicals and warned against smoke inhalation.
Another worker told the site that a generator fueled the fire at the site.
The smoke began to dissipate a little before 11 a.m. and began to thin out.
The operator was trapped in the crane above the fire and was eventually rescued by firefighters
The collapse of the building was captured on video and shared on social media
An employee told local news that they had heard the fire was started by a generator
Eyewitnesses said crews managed to get to the crane operator with water tanks to fight the flames and get the operator to safety.
A worker told WSOC-TV that everyone on the property started screaming and shouting “get out” after the fire started.
Mayor Vi Lyles tweeted, “Charlotteans, please stay safe and refrain from calling 911 unless it is an emergency.
“Our public safety officers are working very hard to bring the 5 alarm fire in the South Park area under control. Everyone’s safety is of the utmost importance.’