**UPDATE**
Despite the destruction, Carpenter Designs was open for business Thursday.
The owner, Tom Carpenter, says he doesn’t anticipate anyone losing their job due to this fire. He says his employees may have to temporarily work in different locations in order to keep their customers from noticing any interruptions in service.
Firefighters continued to be on scene, putting out hot spots on Thursday.
Although several of the firefighters needed medical treatment due to the 90-degree weather and extreme heat of the fire, no one was seriously hurt.
The American Red Cross passed out water and food to the emergency workers.
The investigation into the actual cause of the fire continues.
A massive fire in Rutherford County, NC has been contained, but crews are still extinguishing hot spots as of Thursday afternoon.
Two employees and 1 firefighter were taken to the hospital when flames spread through the recycling plant. The business was Carpenter Designs Incorporated on Belt Court, off of Poors Ford Road.
Drivers could see flames and smoke from nearly 15 miles away.
Firefighters from more than a dozen departments throughout north and South Carolina were fighting the fire.
Employees say it only took seconds for the fire to spread.
The owner of the business says it started at a tub grinder which grinds up wood to make pallets and mulch. He said the business is a total loss.
They tell us the employee working the grinder was burned and flown to a hospital in Winston Salem.
Another employee who tried to help him was also taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation.
"I was actually on the phone with the plant manager and I heard the guys screaming like what's going then he hooked up and then I ran out and saw smoke and then seconds later fire was shooting into the air within seconds..it was unbelievable," said Patty Carrol the office manager.
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