Injured Charlotte Firefighters Recover After Massive Warehouse Fire

May 25, 2006
Fire investigators returned Thursday morning to the scene of a massive warehouse fire in west Charlotte as two firefighters recovered from their injuries.

» Video: Chopper 9 Skyzoom Over Massive Warehouse Fire

Fire investigators returned Thursday morning to the scene of a massive warehouse fire in west Charlotte as two firefighters recovered from their injuries.

The fire Wednesday night destroyed the Coyne Textile Serives warehouse on Westport Road.

Flames burned the gear worn by firefighters James Ogden and Maurice Taylor.

Taylor spent the night in the hospital, Ogden was treated and released.

More than 40 firefighters responded to the massive fire.

Some airplanes were diverted around the huge cloud of smoke and debris which covered west Charlotte.

The fire started at Coyne Textile Services just after 7:00pm Wednesday night.

Chopper 9 Skyzoom Pilot Andy Holt was the first to see the flames. Eyewitness News then alerted firefighters to the location.

Minutes after they arrived, firefighters could be seen scrambling back out of one door as flames raged inside.

Several planes trying to land at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport had to divert their landing routes because smoke from the fire rose so high in the sky.

A couple of planes even had to land on an alternate runway.

Investigators say it could be days before they determine the cause of the fire.

Coyne Textile Services is one of the country's largest industrial laundry operations, making work uniforms, towels, gloves, and mops.

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