SALISBURY, N.C., March 7 (UPI) -- Two firefighters died and four others were injured Friday in a five-alarm fire at a lumber mill near Charlotte, N.C., officials said.
An employee who just arrived at work at the lumber company called authorities, WCNC-TV, Charlotte, reported.
Victor Isler, 40, and Justin Monroe, 19, of the Salisbury Fire Department died while working on the hose team battling the blaze, Salisbury Fire Chief Robert Parnell said during a news conference. "I've been here 20 years. It's pretty upsetting," that employee told WCNC. "But we're all going to work together and keep on going."
The lumber company, which builds cabinets, employs about 25 to 30 people. No employees were reported inside the facility.
Firefighters from across the region were called in to help, officials said.
Piedmont Gas spokesperson David Trusty said about 20 customers in the area near the fire were without natural gas service for a while.
