Last Updated on December 13, 2021 6:01 pm
An arrest has been made in the two fires that occurred at U-Haul on the 105 bypass. Below are the details as provided by Sheriff Len Hagaman in a Monday afternoon press release.
On December 11, 2021, at 4:36 am the Boone Fire Department was dispatched to a possible structure fire in the area of 849 Highway 105 by-pass in Boone. At 4:41 am, Boone Fire units arrived on the scene to find smoke and fire coming from a large storage building located on the site. Multiple storage units were on fire upon arrival.
Watauga Medics, Watauga County Fire Marshal's Office and the Watauga County Sheriff's Office also responded to the incident. Additional resources from Foscoe, Cove Creek, Zionville, Meat Camp, Deep Gap and Blowing Rock Fire Departments responded to assist with fire control.
After the fire was controlled at 5:45 am, the subsequent cause and origin investigation determined the cause of the fire to be suspicious in nature. A criminal investigation by investigators from the Watauga County Sheriff's Office, Watauga County Fire Marshal's Office and the Boone Fire Department led to the arrest of James McInnis of Boone.
McInnis, age 43, is charged with 2 counts of felony burning other buildings and 1 count count of 2nd degree trespass.
He was a suspect in a earlier fire at the same location on December 1, 2021. The ongoing investigation from the December 1st fire and the second fire on December 11th led to the arrest of McInnis for both incidents. Heis being held at the Watauga County Detention Center under a $25,000 secured bond.
Fire damage was extensive to the storage building. Dollar loss amounts are undetermined at this time.
