Fire causes major damage to vacant factory in Hickory, fire department says

HICKORY, N.C. — An overnight fire caused major damage at a vacant factory building in Hickory, according to the Hickory Fire Department.

The department said firefighters responded after midnight to the 1600 block of 11th Avenue NE where a large fire could be seen coming from the building.

Fire officials said no injuries were reported, but damages “are considered major.”

Channel 9′s Dave Faherty spoke with fire investigators who said the damage is so extensive it may be difficult to determine what caused the fire.

Neighbors told Faherty the old frame shop has been closed for years. Channel 9 also learned power was not running to the building.

Smoke was still rising from the building this morning. Firefighters were still on scene Wednesday morning to extinguish smoldering fires, according to the department.

The fire is the second of its kind in the last two months. Another large fire in northeast Hickory destroyed a vacant plant about two miles away.

Fire investigators told Faherty they weren’t able to determine how that fire started and don’t know if there is any connection between the two blazes.

Despite the plant on 11th avenue being tabbed as vacant, several people said people experiencing homelessness were seen living in the building.

“It’s been vacant for about four years,” said Randy Reese. “A bunch of homeless are staying in it.”

A spokesperson with the Hickory Fire Department said no one was supposed to be inside.

“We do know that for us it was labeled a vacant building,” Terry Byers said. “Unoccupied and it was not deemed safe for our personnel to go in.”

The fire department has asked for a backhoe to help dig through the rubble and will be assisted with the case by the Stat Bureau of Investigation.

Hickory fire said it responded with four engines, two ladders, a rescue truck and two command units. They also received assistance from Hickory Police Department, Catawba County EMS, Long View Fire Department and St. Stephens Fire Department.

(WATCH BELOW: VIDEO: Old furniture plant catches fire in Hickory)

VIDEO: Old furniture plant catches fire in Hickory

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