HICKORY, N.C. — Fire officials are working to determine what caused an old hosiery mill to catch fire in Hickory early Friday morning.
Just before 7 a.m., the Hickory Fire Department responded to a structure fire on 1st Avenue SE.
Fire crews told Channel 9 that they battled the fire for more than two hours.
Investigators said the building had been vacant for years and did not have power running to it.
A business owner nearby said he spotted the fire on his way to work and called for help.
“I was smelling smoke. I looked over, and smoke was pouring out of the building. ‘Where was it coming out?’ The top, so I called 911. I hope nobody was hurt,” said witness Johnny Kale.
Drone footage revealed that much of the roof of the building had collapsed, according to firefighters.
VIDEO: Crews battle house fire in east Charlotte
©2023 Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/LH3JSJEF3VBLRJLJQESEAG34AM.png)
