Updated 06/29/2009 09:23 PM
2 firefighters treated for heat exhaustion
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MATTHEWS, N.C. – Two firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion while fighting an industrial fire in Matthews Monday afternoon.
Several departments battled heavy smoke and flames at the East Coast Container Corp. on Campus Ridge Road near Central Piedmont Community College's Levine campus.
"We're in the high 90s here today. In the heat of the fire we've had some heat-related issues," Mike Petleski, assistant fire marshal with Mecklenburg County, said. "One or two people were treated on the scene."
With most of Matthews firefighters tied up at another fire in Mint Hill, N.C., other departments pitched in early on to get the fire under control.
"Everybody that was here initially were fill-in crews that were covering Matthews Fire Station and Idlewild Fire Station, so crews from Union County were some of the first crews in," Petleski said.
Investigators say everyone inside the plant was evacuated and no one was hurt. To ensure everyone on the scene was safe, Mecklenburg County's MEDIC had its mass casualty bus on standby.
For now, the cause of the fire is still unknown.
"We haven't been able to get in and determine an origin and a cause," Petleski said. "It will be probably be until tomorrow until we are able to release a cause of the fire."