Beth Bliss, News Editor

The apartments and belongings of two Appalachian State University students and two other residents were lost last week in a fire, described by Watauga County Assistant Fire Chief Steve Suddreth as “a total loss.”

No injuries were reported. However, tenants Brian Tuttle, Kemp Ellington, Kurt Litton and Amy Blaser lost their apartments and most of their possessions as a result of the fire.

Tuttle and Ellington are currently enrolled at Appalachian and lost everything from clothes and furniture to books and school supplies.

The emergency report of a fire at 789 Howard’s Creek Road, Meat Camp, came in at approximately 11:49 p.m. last Wednesday, and emergency personnel arrived approximately 10 minutes later, said Suddreth.

The fire was extinguished by approximately 3:30 a.m., when Suddreth arrived on the scene.

The fire engulfed a building that housed English Gardens, Ltd., a grounds keeping company, and four apartment units privately owned but managed by PSI of Boone.

The fire started due to malfunction of a single wall metal flue pipe attached to a dual fuel stove, said Suddreth. “It couldn’t take the heat,” he said.

Tuttle said he and fellow residents kept a fire burning in the stove to maintain heat in the apartments above and to lower electricity costs.

He had checked the stove at approximately 11 p.m. Wednesday, and although the flume seemed a little hot, he said it was nothing he thought deserved urgent attention.

Tuttle left to relay the situation to the building’s owner, and when he returned, the building had caught on fire. “When I turned on Howard’s Creek Road, I could see it,” he said.

Tuttle’s apartment had been the first to catch fire. Another resident had heard his smoke alarm and had called the fire department, he said.

Community support began the night of the fire, Tuttle said.

A representative of Boone’s Hampton Inn had driven past the fire scene and had stopped to offer each tenant free lodging for as long as he or she needed it. “That was above and beyond anything they could have done,” Tuttle said.

Tuttle said he has also received food vouchers from Mom’s Restaurant and gift certificates from Wal-Mart, which he used to buy personal hygiene items.

He has also received bags of clothes, from friends and from members of the community.
Both Tuttle and Ellington looked for new places to live. Neither has taken advantage of the PSI offer to find them another apartment; both said the new apartments offered dare not equal in quality to those in the other building.

Tuttle has opted to move on campus and pay a prorated fee for the remainder of the semester.

Ellington said he is currently looking for an apartment and will remain at the Hampton Inn until he finds a new place to live.

Both Tuttle and Ellington are unsure if they will receive compensation for their losses.

Ellington said his belongings were insured through his parents’ homeowners insurance. “Hopefully that will pay for my stuff,” Ellington said.

The Watauga County chapter of the American Red Cross has also offered support to Tuttle, Ellington, and the other victims. Executive Director Sonny Sweet said anyone “burnt out” in a total loss fire is offered immediate assistance from the Red Cross.

Fire victims are offered vouchers for clothing and food from area retailers, said Sweet.

Monetary support comes from the Red Cross’ Jeremy Dell Fisher Memorial Fund, which recognizes the 1996 fire death of an ASU graduate.

Red Cross efforts to foster community support supplement this assistance, said Sweet.

“We serve as a focus point for members of the community who want to contribute other items, such as furniture or household items,” he said.

The process has already gathered several donations. “Once a community hears of a tragedy, all types of good things happen,” said Sweet.

Anyone who wants to contribute furniture, clothing or any school-related item may contact the Red Cross at 264-8226.

Thank you for visiting The Appalachian Online. We hope you enjoy browsing our site to catch up on the latest news that affects Appalachian State University and our community. We welcome your ideas and suggestions.