2 Salisbury Firefighters Killed Battling Woodmill Fire
Last Edited: Friday, 07 Mar 2008, 9:56 PM EST
Created: Friday, 07 Mar 2008, 10:49 AM EST
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By CHAD TUCKER
FOX8 News
SALISBURY, N.C. (AP) -- Two firefighters died Friday and three others were injured while battling a massive fire that heavily damaged a woodworking company in central North Carolina.
Salisbury Fire Chief Rick Parnell said Justin Monroe, 19, and Victor Isler, 40, died from injuries suffered while trying to contain the fire at Salisbury Millworks.
Two other firefighters who suffered first- and second-degree burns were treated at Rowan Regional Medical Center and released. A third firefighter, Capt. Rick Barkley,suffered second- and third-degree burns. He is expected to be released this weekend from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem.
"It's a deeply sad day in Salisbury today," Parnell said. "We lost two excellent firefighters. They are our friends, brothers and buddies. We're a close, tight-knit group and every member is hurting."
Several other firefighters were injured trying to get to their comrades, but none seriously, Parnell said.
Firefighters responded to the millworks shortly after receiving a 911 call around 7 a.m. Parnell said departments were called in to fight the blaze from as far away as Charlotte, which is about 40 miles south of Salisbury.
There was little left of the millworks by early afternoon. The building walls had collapsed, and smoke poured from the smoldering rubble. A steady rain helped firefighters knock down most of the flames that once towered above the site.
The storage facility that housed wood and a work area was destroyed. Company offices were scorched but still standing.
The family-owned company has about 30 employees and manufactures
cabinets, doors and moldings for hospitals and businesses, said
Darlene Mabe, whose husband, Leon, is the company's vice president.
She said her husband, who has been with the company more than 20
years, was meeting with other company executives Friday afternoon.
"Everybody is just heartbroken about this. We don't know what we're going to do," she said.
The cause of the fire hasn't been determined, Parnell said. The state fire marshal, the State Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating. Phone calls to company headquarters rang busy, and messages left at the home of company president Norde Wilson weren't immediately returned.
An American flag flew at half mast at the Central Fire Station near City Hall as Paula Marlowe walked inside with a tray of food. She said she had been at the station many times to bring barbecue from her restaurant. But this time it was different, she said.
"You can't believe how sad it was in there," Marlowe said. "Nobody can believe what happened."
Mayor Susan Kluttz added: "Our entire community grieves today. Our thoughts and prayers are for the fallen firefighters families."
