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Fire commission reports station repairs progressing; warns of wildfire risk from storm debris
Summary
A fire commission representative told commissioners that insurance has covered most station damage, renovations are restarting at Elk Park and Green Valley plans to buy property, but downed timber and blocked access create a wildfire risk that county and federal forestry partners are monitoring.
A representative of the Avery County Fire Commission updated the Board of Commissioners on Feb. 3, saying insurance payments covered most storm damage to fire stations and renovation work is restarting at several volunteer departments.
The representative said Green Valley lost a corner of its building but insurance paid the claim, and Elk Park’s renovation—delayed by the storm and by the death of an architect assigned to the project—should resume this month. The commission has set aside roughly $500,000 per year for renovations across departments, the representative said, and additional state funds may offset some county costs.
Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department remains challenged in finding a new site within its district; the commission emphasized any new location must remain central to the department’s service area. The representative said contractors are ready to resume work and that Green Valley is preparing to purchase property to expand facilities.
The commission also raised public-safety concerns about the large amount of downed timber left by the storm. The representative said the county is coordinating with the U.S. Forest Service and local power companies to reduce wildfire risk from fallen trees and from lines that might spark if timber falls onto them. He noted that a number of water points and ponds used for firefighting were compromised during the storm and will require engineering work to restore access.
The update was informational; no formal board action was requested or taken during the presentation.
