MATTHEWS, N.C. — Neighbors saw flames light up the sky in Matthews overnight, as first responders shut down a major road just hours before morning traffic.
MEDIC said the Matthews, Idlewild, and Charlotte Fire departments pitched in to battle the blaze. By 5 a.m., all lanes of East Independence Boulevard were back open.
Matthews Fire told Channel 9′s Eli Brand it was a one-story house that caught fire just off of East Independence on Sam Newell Road.
At one point, as the flames grew, Channel 9 reporters heard over first responder radio that firefighters were being told not to go inside: “This is going to be an exterior operation, command all units, urgent – urgent – urgent…no interior operations. This is going to be an exterior – defensive mode, do you understand?”
Viewers sent us footage showing just how intense the fire got overnight. Our Channel 9 photographer at the scene also captured the huge emergency response as firefighters battled the flames.
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Matthews Fire said thankfully, the house was empty while it was burning and no one was hurt.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
This is a developing story. Check wsoctv.com for updates.
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