Fire closes iconic Shelby BBQ restaurant until further notice [Video]

SHELBY, N.C. — A fire damaged a barbecue restaurant in Shelby on Thursday.

Red Bridges BBQ Lodge announced on social media that it will be closed until further notice. The fire was contained within the firewall, according to the post.

“It’s just scary, because this is my life, this is my world,” the owner Natalie Ramsey said. “This is the only job I’ve ever had, and my employees are my family. So, I was petrified.” 

Ramsey is a third-generation owner since her grandparents founded it nearly 80 years ago. Ramsey said they were burning the pits off, a process they use to clean the grill, when the fire got out of control. 

“It just hurts my heart, it really does,” Ramsey said. “People don’t realize how much this really is and how much goes into what we do. There is a lot of damage. It just …