One confirmed dead in Tuckasegee apartment fire
-Herald photos by Nick Breedlove
A Tuesday morning (Jan. 26) fire in a Tuckasegee apartment complex has left one man dead.
The victim has been identified as Walter Eugene Fox, 55, of Tuckasegee, according to Capt. Steve Lillard of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
The call came in at 3:27 a.m. from a neighbor who noticed the fire while walking her dog, said Cullowhee Fire Chief Richard Frady.
Firefighters were on the scene in minutes and were able to knock the blaze down and contain the fire to the room of origin, Frady said.
Cullowhee firefighters were assisted by members of the Canada and Sylva fire departments. Some 28 firefighters were on the scene, he said.
“The firefighters did a super job in containing the fire,” Frady said.
The fire began in unit 19 of the Old School Apartments, formerly known as Misty River Apartments, which are owned by Robert Chastain, Frady said. Fox was found dead but was not burned, Frady said, adding that he couldn’t comment further because the incident is still under investigation.
The apartment where the fire originated suffered heavy damage, and the unit directly below suffered minor damage after the fire burned through the floor, Frady said.
Frady said he’s grateful to all the firefighters who contained the fire and helped limit the damage.
“I’d like to thank all the firefighters that assisted,” he said Tuesday afternoon. “Tragic as it was, they did all they could through their quick response. We have some outstanding firefighters in all the fire departments in this county.”
In addition, Frady expressed appreciation to the Tuckasegee Baptist Church, which opened its fellowship hall to give the apartment residents a warm place to stay while the firefighters battled the blaze.
“We appreciate the efforts of the pastor and congregation of the Tuckasegee Baptist Church,” Frady said.
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