On May 30, 2017, personnel from the Henderson Fire Department, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and ATF conducted an origin and cause examination of the fire scene located at 601 Wakefield Ave Henderson NC.

Based upon the scene examination and witness interviews, it was determined that the fire originated in the Roll Goods Warehouse section of the structure.

The fire resulted from the ignition of a large roll of buffing pad material by sparks from an electric connection on the east wall while an employee was utilizing a forklift to move the buffing pad roll to other areas of the plant for processing.

The fire quickly spread to adjacent rolls of the buffing pad material and quickly overwhelmed the employee’s efforts at suppression as well as the building’s sprinkler system.

The fire investigators conducting the fire scene examination have classified this fire as ACCIDENTAL.

From: Steve F. Cordell, Fire Chief, City of Henderson