A massive fire broke out at a city centre building site with fears for missing workers still unnacounted for.
Flames and smoke turned the sky black for miles around and a crane driver was terrifyingly trapped in a high rise crane as the flame and smoke engulfed them.
He was dramatically rescued while his wife watched from below in horror - but workers have told local media how two colleagues working on the windows were unable to be rescued and cannot be contacted.
The blaze broke out in the SouthPark Mall area of Charlotte, North Carolina, at an apartment building under construction. It broke out at around 9.30am local time. and alarming footage posted online showed the flames burning out of control.
Local news new station WSOCTV reported one person has been rushed to hospital with life threatening injuries. 15 people have been rescued in total.
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The massive pillar of fire coming from the building reached higher than a 15-story tower nearby.
Peope reported palm size pieces of ash raining down from the sky and nearby buildings were evacuated.
WSOC reporter Joe Bruno tweeted: "Workers tell me two workers were doing windows when the fire broke out. The workers attempted to use a basket to get them out but were unable to due to the smoke. They haven’t been able to get in contact with them. They are praying them are okay.
"Fire Chief Reginald Johnson says two construction workers are unaccounted for.
"15 people rescued. 90 firefighters. Crane operator will survive."
It started out as a three-alarm fire but this was later escalated to six-alarm meaning fire crews from other areas were called in.
A witness reported: "Toxic smoke & debris" in the area near the fire.
A worker, reportedly a general contractor, was trapped in a crane high above the blaze with smoke seen wreathing the cab as he awaited rescue.
Thankfully the man was later rescued, according to Channel 9′s Hannah Goetz and he appeared to be uninjured.
The crane operator’s wife watched from the ground as firefighters reached him, according to a witness, who stood with her as the fire raged on.
The operator was taken to hospital after the rescue.
A medic mass casualty bus was seen arriving at the scene and surrounding buildings have been evacuated.
A building nearby had to be evacuated after burning debris landed on the roof. Fire crews rushed to the new scene to prevent a spread there.
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles urged people to not call 911 about the fire.
She said: "Charlotteans, please stay safe and refrain from calling 911 unless it is an emergency.
"Our public safety officials are working very hard to control the 5-alarm fire in the SouthPark area. Everyone’s safety is of the utmost importance."
There are concerns of possible collapse in the burning building..
Destiny Hawkins said she is on the ninth floor in the Montfort business complex.
“We can see large dark clouds of smoke and every few minutes you see large flames come over the tops of the buildings in front of it," she said.
"Medics and fire assistance are passing through about every 10 minutes."
Pictures taken by helicopter at the scene appear to show the worker in the crane with smoke billowing beneath them.
Its believed he was up the crane for around two hours before he was rescued.
Footage taken at the scene shows firefighters using a crane to hose water into the higher levels of the burning block.
Flames appear to be coming from almost all floors of the building.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police have roads are closed and drivers should avoid the SouthPark area and seek alternate routes.
The smoke from the blaze is so bad, its being picked up by radar from local Charlotte airport.
According to first responders, the fire is near Fairview Road and Piedmont Row Drive.
Anchor for local news site WCNC, Vanessa Ruffes, tweeted: "Officials ask folks to avoid SouthPark Mall area. Charlotte Fire says there’s a massive fire along Liberty Row Drive, not far from SouthPark Towers. The cloud of smoke is so thick it's registering on radar."
It is reported the building looks to be a new-build. Hundreds are people are stood outside, watching as firefighters battle the flames.
A nearby retirement home gathered its residents in the lobby in preparation to evacuate but the order didn't come.
The fire is in the area of SouthPark Tower.
So much smoke was coming off the area it was affecting drivers’ vision, according to a reporter on the scene.
By about 10.30 am, smoke around the area had dissipated and the mayor reported the fire was under control.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known.
