Leicester Fire destroys mountain home


By Clint Parker A Sunday morning (Sept. 5)


f ire destroyed a home located on a hilltop on Brooks Branch Road just off Newfound Road in Leicester. The home was located on a dirt road nearly a mile from the closest water source. Five area fire departments joined Leicester Fire Department in battling the blaze. Fire crews pumped water from


a small green-covered pond more than a quarter mile below the home to a series of pumper trucks using more than 3,000 feet of fire hose in order to battle the f lames. At least five pumpers were used to get the water from the pond up the hill to the burning structure. Fire crews and equipment lined


the more than half-mile-long dirt road leading up to the house owned by Donald King, accord- ing to Buncombe County land records. King’s land records listed a Los Angeles address. Records show that the nearly


3,000 square foot single-family home with four bedrooms, three bathrooms and two fireplaces was built in 1970 and had an estimat- ed value of nearly $240,000. Sources said that King was out


of town in Virginia when the fire happened. Af ter nearly three hours of


battling the f lames all that was left standing of the structure was the rock foundation, fireplaces and chimneys, except for a few charred floor joists and framing. Many of the firefighters work-


A firefighter continues to soak the smoldering debris.


ing the blaze never saw the actual home and fire as they were man- ning their equipment hundreds of yards away. According to a firefighter the


fire call came in a little after 8 am with the first equipment arriving on scene shortly thereafter. By al- most 11 am firefighters were tak- ing a break from the battle while others dispensed water from hoses


on small blazes that persist after the initial firefighting operations were coming to an end. Smoke from the blaze could be


seen for miles in the Newfound area of Leicester. Units and crews from the French Broad, North Canton, Woodf in, West Bun- combe and Enka-Candler f ire departments assisted Leicester in fighting the flames. Buddy Thompson, Buncombe


County’s arson investigator, was called in to investigate the cause of the blaze.


Vance Masonic


Lodge fundraiser Vance Masonic Lodge will be hold-


ing its annual open house awards night barbecue fundraiser at 6 pm on Sept. 18 at the lodgeís headquarters on Old Mars Hill Highway. Te lodge will be presenting the 25-,


50-, and 60-year awards along with the Willie Lankford Citizenship award for 2010. Vono Freeman and Friends will be


providing some musical entertainment as well. Te awards and music will start


around 7 pm. For additional information, contact Edward Hamlin at 206-2567.


www.leicesterleader.com


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