Authorities Investigate Fire At Louisburg Manufacturing Company

The fire started inside Wammock Incorporated, an outdoor structure manufacturer, at around 2 a.m.

Firefighters say they finally gained control of the blaze around 5 a.m.

They say, at one point, the flames were shooting about 30 feet into the air, which made fighting the fire difficult. And that was not their only challenge.

"Due to the age of the building; knowing what kind of explosion was here, we were scared to get too close to the building. So basically, we stood on the streets and threw water inside of it because of the safety of the firemen," says Louisburg fire chief Timmy Smith.

The person who called in the fire told dispatchers he or she heard an explosion. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Smith says the owner does not have insurance on the 65-year-old, 20,000-square-foot building.

According to the owner's daughter, Emily Wammock, there are about 14 people working at the facility.

Wammock says the shelters are actually made in another building across the street, except for the greenhouses.

There was over $100,000 in equipment in the building, Wammock says, including the machine that made parts for the gazebos. There was also about $10,000 worth of new greenhouse supplies plus a new, completed greenhouse.

The company makes sheds, playhouses, gazebos, and greenhouses.

No injuries were reported.