News

Ask Matt ... what caused Kenmure fire

Fire destroyed a house in Kenmure in March.

By Matt Matteson, Published: June 21, 2017

Q. When was that house fire in Kenmure and what caused it?

The fire in the gated golf course community occurred on March 10. The Henderson County Fire Marshal’s Office reported that the fire at 119 Popular Loop Drive was caused by lightning. An early morning storm blew through the Flat Rock area around 4 a.m. and the Kenmure home was struck by lightning, igniting a fire in the attic. The storm also knocked out the power to the residence making it difficult to locate what was then a small and unnoticed fire. Kenmure is a gated community and the security guard assisted in reporting the fire at 5:55 a.m. The home is two miles from the gatehouse.
Tony Ray, the interim fire chief of Blue Ridge Fire and Rescue Fire Chief following the retirement of long-time chief Gary Brown, said Blue Ridge units arrived in less than 10 minutes after dispatch and eight more mutual aid departments assisted trying to suppress the fire. But the blaze grew to the point where responders had to temporarily back away. “Two of our firefighters were literally blown out the front door of the structure,” Ray said. “With the head start that fire had, it was too far gone.”
By the time the fire was brought under control, only the two-car garage was left standing. Two occupants of the home were transported to Pardee Hospital for possible smoke inhalation. The structure itself carried a tax value of $480,200 and the lot is valued at $156,500. The home once perched on a mountain ridge with a majestic western view is now a total loss. The fire was reported almost two hours after the lightning strike.

Q. Why did they put up all those overhead blinking lights on US 64 West at Old Homestead Road?
Poor visibility. NCDOT spokesperson Dave Uchiyama said the overhead blinking lights were added as a safety feature. Vehicles entering US 64 West from the side road may not be seen from a safe distance because of the lower elevation of the intersection. There are actually five sets of flashing signs – a large overhead flashing sign facing residential traffic on Old Homestead Road and four sets on US 64 West, two are ground-mounted and another two overhead. The entire system cost $30,000. This is the seventh such blinking light system in Henderson County but arguably the most elaborate.
Old Homestead Road is a state maintained road that joins US 64 West at a “T” intersection. Based on a quick GIS search I counted some 70 homes whose residents use that intersection.
Mike and Denise Pudelski have lived on Prestonwood Drive for 22 years. Both agreed the new safety lights were needed but neither was convinced it would solve all traffic problems. Anytime there is rush hour traffic on US 64, the lights facing Old Homestead never stop blinking,” said Mike Pudelski. “It’s still hard trying to make a left hand turn into traffic. The way people drive, they don’t pay attention.”
“You can’t see them until they come over the hill,” said Mary Ickes. “And the traffic is not slowing down.” Ickes lives on Old Homestead Road almost in plain view of Highway 64. She said that even with the blinking lights, the intersection is no safer and NCDOT’s money was ill spent. “We all thought that they were going to put in a regular traffic light,” said Ickes.
Dave Place who lives across from Ickes said the lights were confusing and only marginally better. “You can’t just wait for the light to stop blinking before you go.” said Place. “You still have to watch for traffic coming over the hill.” Place, who has lived in his house for 40 years, remembers many serious accidents and is fearful that the new lights will be troublesome. He thinks the sensors in highway 64 should be moved 100 feet further from the intersection to give Old Homestead drivers more time before a car passes by.
Just a few yards from one of the new light poles drivers can see a roadside cross marking where a life was lost in 2003. Perhaps a connection.
Q. I’ve been seeing survey crews on Kanuga Road from Little River Road to Busy Bend. What is this for?

The crews are doing preliminary survey work on a 3.9-mile section of Kanuga Road scheduled for road improvements. Widening Kanuga Road will only be done at locations where deemed necessary. NCDOT has allocated $2.65 million and the work will be done between 2021 and 2025.

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