Blowing Rock house

fire deemed suspicious
By Melanie Marshall

A fire that damaged a vacation home on Saddle Hills Road in Blowing Rock has been deemed suspicious by investigator Davis Hancock of the Watauga County Fire Marshal’s Office.

Firefighters with Blowing Rock Fire & Rescue were dispatched to the home at 6:45 a.m. Saturday after neighbors reported smoke rising from the structure.

An estimated 15 firefighters responded and were able to contain the flames to the kitchen area of the two-story, wood-frame house. Most of the structure, however, sustained heavy smoke and heat damage.

The property owners, Arnold and Alva Helms of Monroe, were not at the residence at the time of the fire.

Hancock said the Helmses had last visited the vacation home two weeks prior.

He said through the investigation, the fire did not appear to be electrical. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, though Hancock described it as “suspicious.”

Damage is estimated to be $70,000 to the structure and contents. There were no injuries reported in the incident.