By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Fire investigators say an early Monday morning fire at Gildan Yarns was caused by a piece of cotton that got caught in a belt and began to smolder.

No injuries were reported.

The fire began at the plant, 2121 Heilig Road, just after 2:30 a.m. in the air wash room. The room washes air coming out of the tunnel.

“They have a dry chemical that extinguished it,” fire investigator Deborah Horne.

She said the Fire Department responded and made sure the fire was out.

The plant supervisor reported the fire to 911, and employees evacuated the building.

Horne said there was more smoke than fire. Fire crews were on the scene for about two hours, but the fire itself was under control in a matter of minutes, she said.

A second alarm was sent out, likely because of the size of the building, but those responders were not needed in the end.

The other fire crews were on standby at the Rowan County Fairgrounds.

This is the second fire at the plant in the past couple of weeks. Monday’s fire was in a building at the front of the property. A May 26 fire was in the filter house in another building.

Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.