A massive fire erupted in a Gastonia motel, shutting down traffic for miles and creating a smoke plume so large it showed up on weather radars.
The blaze started at around 8 p.m. at the Value Lodge along Interstate 85 on Cox Road. Over 60 firefighters attended the scene. The building, which has sat vacant for over a decade, had become a refuge for the homeless.
The fire was so big that the smoke it generated showed up on weather radars around the Charlotte:
According to the Gastonia Fire Department, there have not yet been any reports of injuries from a massive two-alarm fire.
Investigators suspect the fire was started by a squatter inside the motel, mirroring a similar incident that occurred last year inside the same exact building. The fire department is now talking with the city regarding the potential demolition of the property.