GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — Two Gaston County firefighters are recovering Friday from injuries sustained battling a house fire overnight.
Fire officials said the fire started just after 10 p.m. at a two-story home on Courtland Drive in Gastonia. Smoke and flames were coming from the back of the house.
A ceiling collapsed on two firefighters, officials said. All of the firefighters were then ordered out of the building, officials said. They later reentered the house and put out the fire in about 10 minutes.
Marco Gonzalez, 53, and Jamie Weyant, 41, were taken to Caromont Regional Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.
Gonzalez has a knee injury and was released from the hospital early Friday morning.
Weyant has lower back and neck injuries and was released from the hospital Saturday.
No other injuries were reported and firefighters were able to save several dogs from the home. The homeowners were not present during the fire.
The department ruled that discarded smoking materials caused the fire. The house sustained about $80,000 in damages.
"Throughout the past several days our department has been shown a tremendous outpouring of support from the citizens of Gastonia, and the surrounding area. That support is appreciated very much by our entire department," Gastonia Fire Department officials said in a press release.
The fire department released the following guidelines for smoking while inside or near a house:
- Put cigarettes out all the way. Don't walk away from lit cigarettes and other smoking materials. Put water on the ashes and butts to make sure they are really out before you put them in the trash.
- Do not smoke after taking medicine that makes you tired. You may not be able to prevent or escape from a fire if you are sleepy or have taken medicine that makes you tired.
- Never smoke around medical oxygen. Medical oxygen can explode if a flame or spark is near. Even if the oxygen is turned off, it can still catch on fire.
- Never smoke in bed. Mattresses and bedding can catch on fire easily. Do not smoke in bed because you might fall asleep with a lit cigarette.
- Put your cigarette out in an ashtray or bucket with sand. Use ashtrays with a wide base so they won't tip over and start a fire.