Back-to-back

blazes
By Melanie Davis
melanie@mountaintimes.com

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The Boone Fire Department was busy Monday night and Tuesday morning as firefighters battled two back-to-back blazes.

The first was reported by the homeowner at 7:23 p.m. at 677 Whispering Hills in the Heavenly Mountain development.

As firefighters arrived on scene they discovered fire within the roof structure of the end unit of the condominium building. The fire spread into the attic of the adjacent unit as firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze.

The cause of the fire was a lightning strike. The property was equipped with alarms and a sprinkler system, both of which activated in response to the flames.

Boone Fire Department was assisted with equipment and personnel from Blowing Rock Fire Department and personnel from the Deep Gap Volunteer Fire Department.

Members of the Cove Creek Volunteer Fire Department were on stand by with an engine at the Boone station, due to the Boone firefighters’ commitment to the Whispering Hills blaze.

Firefighters cleared the scene at Heavenly Mountain at 1:23 a.m. A second structure fire was reported at 1:25 a.m. on Junaluska Road.

The home, located at 4664 Junaluska Road, was partially involved upon arrival. The Boone department was assisted with manpower and equipment from the Meat Camp Volunteer Fire Department and the Cove Creek Volunteer Fire Department. Members of the Blowing Rock Fire Department were on standby at the Boone station two.

According to Boone's fire marshal Ronnie Marsh, the Junaluska home was equipped with smoke detectors, however, the batteries had been removed. The homeowner was awake when the fire began and was able to escape without injury.

“We would like to remind everyone the importance of smoke detectors,” Marsh said, adding that the alarm is crucial to waking sleeping family members and alerting homeowners as soon as a fire begins.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation by the Watauga County fire marshal’s office.

The Heavenly Mountain fire caused an estimated $150,000 in damage to the property and the Junaluska fire caused an estimated $75,000 in damage to the home.

There were no injuries reported in either incident. Watauga Rescue was on scene at both fires.

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