Last Updated on March 26, 2022 2:43 pm
UPDATE Monday June 4 12:05pm – The investigation has concluded and Sheriff Hagaman has released the details. More information at this link.
UPDATE Friday June 1, 2018 – Sheriff Len Hagaman says the investigation into the cause of the slide will take time. For more on his statement see this link.
UPDATE from Boone Fire May 30:
On May 30, 2018, just after 5:00 PM, Boone Fire responded to a report of a landslide into a single-family dwelling resulting in catastrophic destruction of the structure from a gas leak. The structure was located on Pine Ridge Drive in the Heavenly Mountain Community. Two persons were reported to be in the structure at the time of the event. When Boone Fire arrived, search and rescue operations were initiated. Two victims were located deceased in the rubble. The names of the victims are not being released at this time pending notification of next of kin. The Watauga County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting the death investigation. There were no other occupants of the structure.
We would like to thank everyone that responded to help during this tragic event.
Agencies that responded to the event were Boone Fire Department, Boone Police Department, Blowing Rock Fire Department, Blowing Rock Police Department, Watauga Sheriff’s Office, Watauga Medic, Watauga Rescue, Watauga County Emergency Management, Watauga County Communications, Boone Public Works Department, Blowing Rock Public Works Department, Red Cross, Foscoe Fire Department, Cove Creek Fire Department, Linville Central Rescue Squad, Fleetwood Fire Department, Champion Fire Department, Caldwell County Emergency Services, Lenoir Fire Department, Clairmont Fire Department, Alexander County Rescue Squad, USAR Taskforce – Buncombe County. Please forgive us if we have inadvertently omitted anyone who responded.
UPDATE – Photos and videos from Boone Police of landslide impact
BFD incident pic.twitter.com/5cmsWz5kaj
— Boone NC Police Dept (@boonepolice) May 31, 2018
BFD incident pic.twitter.com/ETKYQqg4zs
— Boone NC Police Dept (@boonepolice) May 31, 2018
BFD incident pic.twitter.com/svAMJH15UY
— Boone NC Police Dept (@boonepolice) May 31, 2018
BFD incident pic.twitter.com/VRArb4pKxt
— Boone NC Police Dept (@boonepolice) May 31, 2018
UPDATE 7:55pm – Two persons reported in the structure at the time of the collapse, according to law enforcement. Search and rescue option ongoing. USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) team from Asheville area en-route.
UPDATE 7:47pm – Two track hoes are on scene according to scanner dispatches.
Emergency personnel with multiple agencies are working a reported landslide into a residence. The slide, at 201 Pine Ridge located off Heavenly Mountain Drive, was first dispatched out around 5:15pm.
Boone Fire and Watauga County Sheriff's Deputies responded to the scene initially, as the cause was thought to be an explosion. Dispatches from both Boone Fire and deputies later said it was landslide.
According to scanner dispatches removal of debris is expected to be lengthy. Crews with manpower and chainsaws from Foscoe Fire, Cove Creek Fire along with Linville Fire (Avery County), Fleetwood Fire (Ashe County) and Champion Fire (Wilkes County) have also been requested as of 6:59pm.
A track hoe is also being brought to the scene to help. It is unclear from scanner dispatches if there are residents in the home, though there are cars parked in the garage portion.
WataugaOnline.com will update as more information becomes available.
A house has collapsed in Boone after a landslide. Two people were trapped rescue crews have been called in @SpecNewsCLT pic.twitter.com/wod8gltm9w
— Rose Eiklor (@Rose_Eiklor) May 30, 2018
