By Steve Harrison
The Charlotte Observer
SALISBURY, N.C. — Salisbury Millwork, destroyed in a Friday fire that killed two firefighters, was cited for a number of violations by the N.C. Department of Labor during its last inspection in 2002.
Some of the violations were not having fire exits marked properly and not having portable fire extinguishers readily available.
Only one of the 20 violations was deemed “serious” by the state and was punishable by a $100 fine. It was about the handling of a piece of equipment and didn’t appear to be fire-related.
The cause of Friday’s fire hasn’t been determined, and it’s unclear if the six-year-old violations had any relationship to the blaze.
No one was believed to have been in the building when the fire started, and the firefighters died inside when they were trying to contain the blaze.
Salisbury Millwork president Norde Wilson couldn’t be reached for comment Wednesday.
Tony Dowell, an employee who was the first person at work when the fire was just beginning at 7 a.m., said the building seemed safe.
“It was an old building, but we kept it clean,” Dowell said.
Dowell said he believes the fire started in a basement sometimes used as a conference room under the millwork’s office.
Few records relating to the more than 62-year-old business have been released.
The city of Salisbury hasn’t yet released documents relating to the business, including fire inspection records. The city said the documents were part of the ongoing investigation, though it has since reversed itself, and said it will release them.
Contents of the 911 and other emergency calls won’t be released to the public and news media outlets until Tuesday, Rowan County Superior Court Judge Chris Collier has ruled.
In delaying the release of the calls, Collier acted at the request of Rowan District Attorney William Kenerly. His opinion stated the immediate release of the calls would “undermine” the ongoing investigation.
The Observer has requested release of the calls under the state’s public record laws.
“These records will help us know how our government responded in a moment of crisis,” said Observer executive editor Rick Thames. “That’s important to everyone touched by this tragedy, as well as to others who will rely on a future response.”
The N.C. Department of Labor has opened an investigation of the city of Salisbury’s fire department.
Spokesman Neal O’Briant said the probe will examine the firefighter’s training, and whether the department was following its own procedures.
O’Briant said the Salisbury Millwork hadn’t been investigated since 2002. The Department of Labor will periodically inspect such hazardous businesses, though it doesn’t have a set timetable for doing so, he said.
A joint funeral service will be held for Salisbury firefighters Victor Isler and Justin Monroe.
Firefighters’ funeral
A joint funeral service for Salisbury firefighters Victor Isler and Justin Monroe will be 2 p.m. today in the Omwake-Dearborn Chapel at Catawba College, 2300 W. Innes Street, Salisbury.
The chapel’s sanctuary holds about 1,000 people. If it fills, officers will direct attendees to overflow seating, according to the funeral home handling the arrangements.
Monroe will be buried at Rowan Memorial Park in Salisbury.
Monroe’s family members would like contributions to be made to the Trading Ford Baptist Church, Building Fund, 3600 Long Ferry Road, Salisbury, N.C. 28146.
Isler, who moved from New York to Salisbury last year, will be buried in New York at a later date.