By Jesse Wood
A resident died on Sunday morning when the Riverview Grocery and Apartments burned down, according to local authorities.
In a release from the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office, a report of a structure fire at 8210 U.S. 321 in Western Watauga came in at about 9:15 on Sunday morning.
While 11 fire departments, including the Beaver Dam Fire Department and Fall Creek Fire Department, which were the first departments dispatched to the scene, responded the fire, the “structure was a total loss. ”
The deceased resident was unable to evacuate. Other displaced residents are being assisted by the American Red Cross.
The Watauga County Fire Marshall’s Office, Watauga County Sheriff’s
Office and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation are
investigating the incident.