Fire at freshmen dorm leads to five hour investigation

This story was co-written with Haley Smith Agents with the State Bureau of Investigation are trying to determine the cause of a fire at Walker Residence Hall last night. Home to 400 members of the freshman class, the nine-floor dorm became a hot topic across campus and on social media as students were evacuated from the building at 5:15 […]

Southeast wildfires consume thoughts of WNC residents

Major drought and dry weather reaching across the southeast has made is easy for wildfires to start. According to the US Forest Service, 59 out of the 61 wildfires were located in the southeast during November. There are currently no active wildfires in Western North Carolina, according to the West Macon Volunteer Fire Department. The […]

Firefighters tame 15 fires in Cherokee; arson blamed

This story was written by Quintin Ellison, originally published in The Sylva Herald on Nov. 17. In 26 years as the Nantahala District ranger for the U.S. Forest Service, Mike Wilkins has fought a lot of wildfires in Western North Carolina. The veteran firefighter has never seen anything quite like this, however, at least not in […]

Rolling Stone, Subway on fire

  If you were planning to have your lunch in Subway, Rolling Stone or The Mad Batter today, you will have to change your plans. The food establishments will be closed. Unofficial sources said that a fire started around 8:30a.m.from either Subway or Rolling Stone and soon after both of the restaurants were covered in […]

Fire destroys mobile home in Sylva; no injuries

SYLVA, N.C. – A mobile home went up in flames late Tuesday evening, March 19, in the Mountain Creek Estates mobile home park, causing damage to surrounding units and prompting emergency personnel to evacuate residents. No one was injured in the blaze which destroyed one mobile home and damaged two others before firefighters brought it […]

When there is smoke, there is fire

Catamount Peaks Apartment building 331 was engulfed in flames on Tuesday night, Sept. 6,  producing smoke that could be seen throughout Cullowhee. According to students the fire was caused by lint build up in the dryer. Former resident, Danielle Lacroix, stated when she lived in the apartment, there were prior problems with the dryer. “We […]