GASTONIA, N.C. — Investigators believe a massive fire at an abandoned mill in Gastonia was set on purpose.
Channel 9′s Joe Bruno was at the scene on East Ozark Avenue around 6 a.m. Wednesday, as flames began consuming the building.
Gastonia Fire Chief Phil Welch said an unhoused man was seen walking into the building with a propane tank early Wednesday.
“They heard an explosion,” Welch said.
Welch said that same man left after the fire and isn’t believed to be injured. No firefighters were hurt either, Welch said.
Our Channel 9 photographer captured the massive flames pouring out of the warehouse Wednesday morning.
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Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over the building around 10 a.m. as firefighters continued to extinguish the blaze.
Welch said freezing temperatures impacted their efforts to extinguish the fire. A nearby fire hydrant was inoperable because it froze over. “The valve is underground. Here we are – 17 degrees. It’s uncommon for us,” Welch told Channel 9.
Dwayne Burks, who is with Gateway Ministries, said the person may have not intended to start the fire.
The person was probably using the tank for heat.
Burks said people will take a risk.
C. J. Love, who is unhoused, is doing his best to stay warm.
“I slept in my car last night,” he said.
Dwight Britt normally sleeps on the street, but on Tuesday night, he stayed at the warming center at First United Methodist Church.
“You get a cot and you get to sit there all night and eat,” Britt told Channel 9.
Burks said the center won’t hold all 300 and some documents unhoused people in Gaston County.
He said if investigators claim is true, it may prevent more incidents like this.
The warming center had 65 people on Tuesday night, which is the most it ever had.
The fire investigation is ongoing.
(WATCH BELOW: Firefighters’ quick response controls major warehouse fire in northwest Charlotte)
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