We do have team coverage
here on this massive fire.
Our reporters has been on the ground in
South Park monitoring the situation all day.
We do want to start with our Jane Montreal
who's been at the scene since this morning,
gathering information,
talking with officials,
talking with folks on scene,
Jane joining us live right now,
particularly concerning Jane the
the word of these missing people.
Hopefully you're getting some updates here.
What can you tell us?
Well, Vanessa, we have been
covering this and heard about the
two people that are unaccounted
for since early this morning.
We are now by the way on Fairview and
Barkley Downs where they reopen lanes
on the westbound side of Fairview.
But you can see there that the
crane pretty much burned to a crisp.
Those flames really worked in way up and
where that water dousing the building.
Still although plenty of fire trucks
that were at one time blocking Fairview
now have cleared from the scene,
but at one time more than 90
firefighters flooding this area.
That when that fire moved up,
the structure still under construction,
that smoke could be seen for miles.
And tonight we do know that
two people are still missing.
Emotions running high for two men
who say their brother was trapped.
Still no word on his condition at this time.
However, Charlotte Fire Chief
Reginald Johnson telling us they
were able to rescue 15 workers
including a crane operator.
He was taken to the hospital with
non life threatening injuries.
Chief Johnson saying the department
also had several mayday calls.
The mayday is when crews get trapped or
have access issues of escaping due to
the fast moving fire and and a mayday
is required when we have to send other
firefighters to rescue those companies.
And we had two of those as they
were attempting to rescue all of
the construction workers that
were in the building at the time.
According to the construction
foreman there are two.
Construction workers that
are unaccounted for.
Chief Johnson telling us that that
fire burned at 2000 degrees and
had plenty of the exposed wood
for fuel to keep that fire going.
As this again still under construction.
We do know that neighboring fire
departments from Pineville, Wesley Chapel,
as well as Midland and Steele Creek
did help run calls for Charlotte
as their crews were here on scene.
Live in South Park, Jane,
Montreal, WC&C, Charlotte.
Tough to imagine that inferno of those
firefighters had to go in battle.
Jane, thank you for the latest there.
Continuing with the team coverage,
we want to bring you in with
our Austin Walker, Austin.
As those flames engulf the apartment complex,
hundreds of people,
they stood outside watching maybe
people trying to escape the area even.
It was a scary sight for a lot of people
and you've been talking with those
people in the area that saw a lot.
What are they saying and telling you tonight?
Yeah, saw a lot is definitely understatement.
It was extremely a big event out here today.
And a big talking point was actually the
air quality when those flames erupted,
they were, they were very big,
very aggressive and fierce,
causing a lot of smoke and that wind
pushing the smoke into this area.
People over here saying that it was
actually sometimes hard to breathe
because how thick the air was,
you know, earlier this morning
just after 9:00 o'clock we got here
and there were hundreds of people
out here watching those flames.
We saw pieces of the building
actually coming off of the building.
Because it was just charred and and
just falling apart at that point
and they say it was hard to breathe.
Like we mentioned,
they tell me their chest was been
tight and and that smoke was just
making their throat and nicer.
And we know we can attest that as well.
Earlier today it was extremely hard to
breathe and our eyes are are pretty red.
But thankfully things have cleared
out just a little bit.
That wind has shifted just a little bit
more of those flames have died out.
So it's not nearly as bad as it
was but CMPD and Charlotte fire
have moved us back multiple times
earlier this morning because of how
dangerous those flames.
Were and how that smoke
was pouring into this area.
The reason for this,
they say they don't know what was burning.
They couldn't tell you what was in
those chemicals that was burning and
and how dangerous it could have been.
But still those impacts were
definitely felt out here.
Gray everywhere and you you can smell it.
I mean people were saying you could
see it from Bojangles Coliseum area.
Everything drifting that way was
very hot in the smoke and the
water in my eyes. It was insane.
I've never experienced anything like this.
And so a lot of emotions
out here because again they
have never seen anything like this.
We want to reiterate to you that at
that time it was very hard to breathe.
And if you were in this area,
they tell us that if you,
if you were here, if you're still here,
you should still stay inside
because again they, to reiterate,
they do not know what was in those
chemicals and and how it could affect
somebody and it could be dangerous.
So just to be safe,
more safe than sorry in that situation.
But we are here,
we'll be out here live at 6:00 o'clock
as well bringing the latest updates,
but for now live in South Park.
Austin Walker, WC&C, Charlotte.
Yeah,
great reminder for folks to stay
in if they don't have to go out.
I know at one point we saw it on our radar.
That's how thick that smoke was,
not just in shades of green,
but also deeper yellows too.
So very impactful there.
Austin, thank you so much.