CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Multiple businesses in northwest Charlotte were damaged when a fire broke out at a strip mall on Bradford Drive early Saturday morning.
The Charlotte Fire Department responded to a reported fire at a shopping plaza in the 400 block of Bradford Drive, near Thomasboro Academy and Freedom Drive, around 4 a.m. Multiple alarms were sounded, according to Charlotte fire officials.
When firefighters arrived, they found smoke coming from the attic of the building with heavy flames inside.
"Once we made entry into the attic, it was a heavily involved fire," a Charlotte Fire Department official said.
More than 55 firefighters responded and had the flames out in about an hour. Because the fire was in a strip mall, firefighters were presented with a unique challenge compared to most large buildings.
"This is a strip mall, and the strip mall contains several businesses," the official said. "Everyone has their own special space, so we had to go in and go the length of the building to fight the fire from the attic."
The shopping center includes a Chicken King restaurant, Boost Mobile wireless store and the Sam & Son Mart convenience store.
Charlotte Fire hasn't reported any injuries at this time and the cause of the fire remains under investigation. No further details have been provided at this time.
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