An outdoor storage building and a pontoon boat were destroyed in a fire Wednesday evening near West End.
The blaze broke out off Highway 73 near the intersection with McKenzies Mill Road. According to authorities, the property owner had been burning debris near the building when the flames spread, igniting the structure and the surrounding area.
Emergency crews were initially dispatched for a smoke investigation, but the call was quickly upgraded to a structure fire after first responders spotted a thick column of smoke as they were leaving the station.
By the time crews arrived on scene, the storage structure was fully engulfed in flames. The fire also reached a nearby pontoon boat, which was completely destroyed.
No injuries were reported, and fire crews were able to contain the blaze before it spread further.
The incident remains under investigation.
A Moore County native who has spent more than 20 years telling stories across North Carolina and beyond. He’s worked with CNN, WRAL, and CBS 17, and now serves as a Video Journalist for ABC11. Patrick has a passion for breaking news and has earned multiple awards for his coverage. He’s also a certified NWS SKYWARN Storm Spotter and was among the first news videographers in the state to become an FAA-certified drone pilot.
