CLEVELAND, N.C. — A three-alarm fire broke out at the Daimler Freightliner facility on Saturday, prompting a response from over 20 agencies across Rowan, Iredell, and Davie counties.
All employees inside the facility were safely evacuated without injury, and the unified response included fire, EMS, rescue, and law enforcement teams. During the firefighting efforts, one firefighter fell into a small pit area within the paint booth but was rescued safely with the help of fellow responders.
Several firefighters experienced heat exhaustion and dehydration during the incident. The American Red Cross provided on-scene support for rehabilitation, ensuring that those affected received necessary care. One firefighter was transported for monitoring and is expected to recover.
The NC State Bureau of Investigation and Office of State Fire Marshal are assisting in the investigation into the cause and origin of the fire, with Daimler Freightliner fully cooperating in the process.
“We are grateful for the rapid, unified response from so many partner agencies that ensured this incident was contained and that all occupants and personnel remained safe,” said the Chief of the Cleveland Community Fire Department, Kenny Payne. “The strong collaboration between emergency responders and Daimler staff helped limit injuries during a challenging incident.”
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