It now appears no one was at home at the scene of an Ashe County fire this morning, firefighters from several Ashe departments out on the house fire scene at this hour.  The dispatch came in  just after 4:30 this morning,

flames spotted—but it took some searching to find the correct address off of Whenlin Ridge Road, the fire finally found at 1079 Whenlin Ridge Road in Lansing. Fire units reported that there was a vehicle at the house, but there was no registration information available, and with the house sold in the past two weeks, it was hard to determine whether anyone was in the home, but now it appears no one was there at the time of the fire.  The fire marshal and other investigators are being called to the scene

A large two-story home was destroyed in a late afternoon fire, a blaze fought by at least two departments.  The fire call was at 181 Abbey Road in the McGrady community of Wilkes County, first fire units reporting that heavy smoke was visible long before their arrival, then discovering the home fully involved in flames.  Traphill was called for back-up—and a request for all equipment to roll as what was described as a 3000 square-foot home was being consumed by the fire.  It appeared the fire was only discovered as folks were returning home in the 5 o’clock hour.  Both departments were out until late into the night and other details about the ownership and cause will come today.