Body found inside Alexander County home after fire

Firefighters found a body inside a home after a fire in Alexander County Thursday. Around 4:52 a.m., officials say a call came into Alexander County Communications about a structure fire located on H&H Lane in the Bethlehem Community of Alexander County. After the fire was extinguished, firefighters found a body inside the home. This person has not been identified. Alexander County Sheriff’s Office, Alexander County Fire Marshal’s Office, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation were called in to investigate the fire. There’s no word on what happened or a possible cause as officials continue to investigate. Bethlehem, Wittenburg, and Ellendale Fire Departments, along with Alexander County EMS responded to the residence.
WBTV-TV Channel 3

Fire damages home in St. Stephens community; family displaced

A residential fire at 31st Street Court NE in Hickory has displaced a family. St. Stephens Fire Department responded and the fire was out by 1:10 p.m. Two people were home when the fire started, according to St. Stephens Fire Chief Shawn Greene. No one was injured. Greene said there is major structural damage to the home. The fire reportedly started in the house's laundry room but how the fire started has yet to be determined.
Hickory Daily Record

State wildlife officials discourage outdoor yard debris burning

It’s not a ban, but state wildlife officials are discouraging residents from outdoor yard debris burning. Instead, the North Carolina Forest Service wants people to mulch their leaves,stems, and other yard debris. The recommendation is related to the coronavirus outbreak across the country and world. In a press release Thursday, N.C. Forest Service officials said, they urge citizens to reconsider burning yard debris through the end of May, which historically marks the end of spring wildfire season in North Carolina. Instead, they said to consider alternatives to burning. Some types of debris, such as leaves, grass, and stubble, may be of more value if they are not burned but used for mulch instead.
WITN-TV NBC

Companies provide face masks to Salisbury Fire Department

Three local businesses in Salisbury are being recognized for making in-demand face masks available to the Salisbury Fire Department. According to Salisbury City Manager Lane Bailey, firefighters were in need of the special N95 and N50 face masks to reduce the risk of their exposure to anyone who may have symptoms of the coronavirus. Several local auto parts stores and paint stores were contacted. Bailey says that Rouzer Motor Parts, PPG, and Sherwin Williams had such masks, and provided them to the fire department. The owner of Rouzer also found some additional masks at his home and donated those to the Salisbury Fire Department. “I happened to have some at home, so I went home and got a few and realized we had some other filters up here that we hadn’t put on the shelf yet," Allan Rouzer said. “It was the right thing, that’s all I know.”
WBTV-TV Channel 3 Charlotte

Fire damages large barn at Cabarrus County park

Fire damaged a large barn at a Cabarrus County park on Thursday morning, closing the park. Officials reported that at 1:06 am, the Concord Fire Department was notified of a reported out building on fire at 4001 Stough Road in Concord. The Cabarrus Sherriff’s Department arrived on scene first and reported a large barn was on fire. Firefighters with the Concord Fire Department arrived within 6 minutes from the time of dispatch. The incident was brought under control with 30 minutes. A total of 3 Engines, 2 Ladders, 1 Rescue and 2 Battalions Chiefs responded to the fire. The Concord Fire Department was assisted by Cabarrus County Sherriff’s Department, Cabarrus County Fire Marshall’s Office, Harrisburg Fire Department and Cabarrus County EMS.
WBTV-TV Channel 3 Charlotte

City of King forms Incident Management Team to deal with crisis

City of King employees across all departments are working to continue services to citizens while ensuring the COVID-19 suppression effort has minimal interference with normal functions. Employing the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Incident Command System (ICS), a cross-section of King’s staff leadership has been formed into an incident management team (IMT) under the unified command of Police Chief Jordan Boyette and Fire Chief Steven Roberson in order to provide the best possible response to this public health emergency. This program has adopted the motto “Ordo e Chao” “Order out of chaos,” as it provides a systematic response process to bring order out of the chaos of emergency and incident response.
The Stokes News

Driver injured in fiery accident after crashing into oil tanker in Cary

A driver was taken to the hospital Wednesday night after their car crashed into the rear of a gasoline tanker truck on U.S. Highway 1 in Cary. The crash happened on U.S. 1 near Tryon Road in Cary around 11 p.m. Town of Cary officials said a passerby stopped to help rescue the driver before the car caught fire. The driver was transported to WakeMed in Raleigh with serious injuries. Cary police remained on the scene for more than three hours investigating.
WRAL-TV CBS 5 Raleigh

Asheville-Buncombe Tech EMS program donates supplies, services to first responders amid pandemic

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College's Emergency Services division is lending a helping hand to those on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. The college says members are donating Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other supplies to protect area first responders from exposure, as well as providing certified face mask fittings and creating training videos. Emergency Services Dean Clint Gorman, A-B Tech’s representative to Buncombe County and North Carolina Emergency Management during the pandemic, says PPE is critical to protect first responders.
WMYA Channel 40 Anderson