‘Intentionally set’ house fire sends 3 Charlotte firefighters to hospital

CHARLOTTE — Three firefighters with the Charlotte Fire Department have been hospitalized following a two-alarm house fire that was intentionally set Thursday morning in north Charlotte.

The department responded to a structure fire around 2:45 a.m. on Grimes Street and had to call for more support due to the size of the fire.

Firefighters said it took 60 minutes to get the fire under control.

A mayday was also transmitted before one firefighter had to be rescued from the home. Three family members and a dog were also able to escape due to working smoke alarms.

“Mayday is one of those events that we do train on. We teach our officers what situation you are to call a mayday,” Chief Reginald Johnson explained.

Overall, three firefighters were ultimately transported to an area hospital due to injuries sustained while battling the fire.

Thursday afternoon, the Charlotte Fire Department said investigators “determined the fire was intentionally set.”

Neighbors like Patricia Equsie-Wilson said they were awoken by firefighters responding to the scene.

“I called my next-door neighbor to ask her to come and look out. And I called my other neighbors,” Wilson said.

Wilson said she was glad no one was hurt after such a large fire.

“I saw the firefighters, and I saw the fire across the street. It was just horrible,” she explained.

No suspect has been identified yet in connection with the fire.

On Thursday afternoon, Channel 9 learned the three firefighters had been released from the hospital and were recovering at home, fire officials have not reported on their condition.

VIDEO: Firefighters investigating cause of 3-alarm fire at business in southwest Charlotte

Firefighters investigating cause of 3-alarm fire at business in southwest Charlotte

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