Possible explosion reported at Park Drive structure fire

A fire in the 1300 block of Park Drive in Mount Airy caused quite a stir Thursday morning as first responders from around the county raced to put out a structure fire.

At this time, there are no reports of injuries, but the Mount Airy Fire Department and several volunteer fire departments were still on the scene of the fire as of 10 a.m. according to Mount Airy Police.

Authorities said that the fire is under investigation at this time by the Mount Airy Fire Department with assistance from their colleagues at the Mount Airy Police Department as well as the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.

The fire closed several roads along Park Drive off of U.S. 601 behind Chili’s and Walmart remain closed at this time.

Accessing Park Drive from U.S. 601, drivers were immediately greeted by a barrage of blinking emergency lights the screamed something was afoot.

Neighbors living near the scene of the fire were milling about on Park Drive and talking to one another, cobbling together facts from those on the ground.

One neighbor was taking photos of fire trucks parked in front of her home. She was flagging down a member of Mount Airy Police Department to see if the trucks could be moved so she could go to work.

She said her home backs up to trailer homes that are off of the 1300 block of Park Drive, which is to the South of Highland Park Baptist Church and to the North of Brooklen Avenue. Around 9 a.m. she heard noises that sounded like objects striking her residence. Given she was trying to get to work, she had not gone to investigate the noises and was unaware, she said that a fire had been the cause of the neighborhood disturbance and first responder presence.

Another resident, who was walking North on Park Drive from the area where the fire was being fought, said she heard a loud “boom” sometime after the fire departments had arrived on scene. She had gathered from those on the scene that it may have been an exploding oxygen tank.

Lieutenant B. Evans of the Mount Airy Police Department said crews were still on scene and engaged in ensuring the fire was out. He stated he arrived on scene about ten minutes after the fire started.

An array of resources attended the scene, including City of Mount Airy resources along with volunteer fire departments from the area.

Lt. Evans said this was due to the fact that the structure was “fully engaged” by the fire, and its proximity to the shopping center that houses Walmart.