Flames burned the Statesville Purina grain distribution plant on McNess Road near Highway 70 and Bell Farm Road.
An explosion rocked the mill tower just before 5 a.m. Friday. Huge plumes of smoke could be seen billowing into the sky from the fire that started in a storage unit 80 feet below ground, firefighters said.
Investigators said two workers at the plant were airlifted to Baptist Hospital. Ricky Christopher, 24, has minor burns and Jimmy Booie, 26, has burns over 90 percent of his body.
Plant supervisor James Sewards' boss asked him to go be with the victim's families at the hospital.
"I spent most of the morning with them. They're taking it pretty rough," said Seward.
Seward struggled for words as he watched the plant where he's worked for years go up in smoke.
Fire Chief Andy Webster was one of the first firefighters to arrive.
"The fire was halfway up that tower. It had blown out the wall -- heavy fire was showing from there," said Webster.
Seward said Christopher and Booie were injured when the storage bin that holds 300 to 400 tons of grain exploded. The blast knocked out the stairs that goes 80 feet below ground to the bottom of the bin.
Fire officials said the blaze was so huge and intense that it quickly spread to a six-alarm fire. They said they have put out an all-points bulletin for any firefighting personnel to respond.
Fire officials said firefighters aren't able to get to the source, where the flames are burning the hottest. That was a big safety concern for firefighters.
"You can replace a building, but not one of my guys can be replaced," said Webster.
The Iredell County fire marshal prepares to begin his search for answers into what caused the explosion and fire.
Webster looks at the positive side of a devastating day.
"Luckily, the weather's cool enough. If it was a hot summer day, I don't know what we'd do," he said.
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