Vandals roast AppalCART shelter

The AppalCART shelter on Stadium Drive near Trivette Hall was intentionally set on fire at approximately 2:45 a.m. on Wednesday. A student living in a nearby dorm reported the fire. An officer of the Appalachian State University Police Department responded immediately and put the fire out with an extinguisher kept in the vehicle.

Boone Fire Department responded and sprayed the shelter down to ensure the fire was out.

ASU police said the Appalcart shelters are subject to vandalism. Many of the shelters are damaged by suspects holding a lighter to the acrylic glass panels, leaving burn marks. The acrylic glass melts and will ignite once it reaches a certain temperature. Officers speculate this behavior may have caused the early morning flames.

The damaged panels will be replaced in the shelter. The fire was extinguished before damaging the entire structure.

The intentional burning of a building or structure is punishable as a class H felony with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact ASU police at (828) 262-2150. Watauga County Crime Crimestoppers may also be contacted at (828) 262-4555. Informants may remain anonymous and if the facts provided lead to an arrest, a reward up to $1,000 is available.

— Melanie Davis, staff writer