ICE Agents Raid Kings Mountain, NC, Fire Equipment Factory

    June 26, 2025
    Armed and masked ICE agents and police stormed the business saying they were investigating an alleged identity theft.

    Masked ICE agents and police officers with weapons drawn raided a fire equipment factory in Kings Mountain Wednesday afternoon.

    “I was trying to record, and he told me, ‘No recording, put your phone up.’ He grabbed my phone, and like, that’s when he took the record off, and he turned off my phone. He was like, ‘Everybody turn off your phones now. It’s not. You’ll be detained,’ Eric Pinon told Queen City News.

    Pinon, a U.S. citizen, said he didn't answer any questions.

    “They were asking questions like, “Are you a U.S. citizen? Anybody in there? You a citizen or not? You a citizen?” Or if, like, anybody that’s working without papers or under a different name,” he said. 

    Word of the raid quickly spread on social media and protesters showed up to watch the activity.

    An ICE spokesperson claimed the raid was part of an identity theft probe.

    Buckeye Fire, that has been in business since 1968, offers a complete line of handheld and wheeled fire extinguishers, extinguishing agents, fire suppressing foam concentrates & hardware, pre-engineered kitchen suppression systems, and industrial gas and flame detection systems suitable for a variety of industries, according to its website.

     

    About the Author

    Susan Nicol | News Editor

    Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues. 

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