By Elise Franco
The Star
SHELBY, N.C. — Fire crews remained at Clearwater Paper Corp., 687 Washburn Switch Rd., well into Saturday night - working to extinguish a blaze that began just before 6 p.m.
The call came in to Lattimore’s No. 7 Volunteer Fire Department at 5:45 p.m., and the department was assisted by Boiling Springs Rural, Cleveland County, No. 3, Polkville and Shanghai volunteer fire departments, as well as Shelby City Fire Department.
Richard Morgan, No. 7 chief, said the fire started in the paper storage area of the warehouse where paper waste is held. Morgan said the supervisor on site saw smoke and called the fire department. The sprinkler system activated, but it was too high above the fire to contain it.
As of 8:45 p.m., the fire was contained but not extinguished, Morgan said.
“We need to get the smoke cleared to get to the fire,” he said. “We cut about five holes in the roof to ventilate the smoke. It was so heavy that we couldn’t see what’s what.”
A Polkville firefighter sustained a minor shoulder injury while helping to get the fire under control, Morgan said. The firefighter, who name was not released, was taken to Carolina’s HealthCare System - Cleveland to be treated for his injury.
“He slipped on the dock and fell about five feet,” he said.
The cause of the fire and monetary damages are unknown at this time.
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