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Fire traps workers on roof of N.C. airport control tower

Charlotte firefighters quickly extinguished a fire in an old control tower at Charlotte Douglas International Airport

By Jeff A. Chamer
The Charlotte Observer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Four construction workers escaped a fire in the old control tower at Charlotte Douglas International Airport on Thursday morning, which caused heavy smoke but no injuries.

Charlotte firefighters responded at about 8:10 a.m. The construction workers were trapped on the roof of the tower. Firefighters had the fire under control in about 10 minutes, and the workers were able to get out on their own.

The department said the airport’s normal operations were not impacted.

The fire started in the elevator shaft of the tower, which was under demolition, the department said Thursday afternoon. It was accidentally caused by molten slag dropping onto foam insulation during demolition work.

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