Old Mills Pose Hidden Dangers for Firefighters

SALISBURY – An early morning fire did some damage to an old textile plant in Rowan County this morning, and one firefighter was injured.

The incident highlights a real danger for firefighters when they have to go into huge old buildings and why some are saying that property owners need to do more to keep them safe.

They stand as tattered towering reminders of our textile past. Old mills are seen in nearly every town across the Carolinas…what is not seen is the danger they pose to firefighters.

“They have large void spaces,” said Rowan County Fire Investigator Deborah Horne. “They may not know what’s inside, some of the older textile mills have been sold to private industry, they may have several tenants inside but they are not aware of what products they may have or are storing.”

Thursday morning in Landis that’s what firefighters faced. An old mill, now divided into several businesses. The fire was caused by a spark from a torch igniting dust that had gathered in duct work over the years.

“The owner did let us know they had a cutting torch to cut down duct work yesterday,” said Douglas Linn, Landis Fire Chief.

The old Cone Mills plant in Salisbury is a good example of what firefighters could face. Inside there are thick wooden beams that can fall, firewalls that may have opened over the years. Outside there are holes in the ground, unstable stairs and doors, and old fire equipment that probably doesn’t work.

“It takes so much personnel, so much fire hose, there are incidents where the firefighters go in and the sprinkler system does not work, someone has messed with the sprinkler system,” Horne added.

That was one of the problems investigators found on Thursday.

“We did hook to the sprinkler system and we tried to pump the system but we immediately noticed something was wrong, we checked the indicator valves and noticed they were all shut. I have not talked to the owner to find out why they were shut and why they were not operating,” Linn added.

Investigator Horne says she would encourage property owners to call their local Fire Marshals, have them come and check the property, that way firefighters know what they’re getting into before it’s too late.

In this morning’s fire one firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion. He was treated at the scene, then taken to the hospital for observation.

PRIMARY AGENCY: Landis Fire Department


INCIDENT TYPE: 3rd Alarm