Paula Blakely (center), a resident of the 21 Building, is helped by her mother Becky Hayes (right), and other friends to retrieve what is left of her belongings from the rubble. Paula and her husband Nakia are still looking for their pet dog.  Photo: Urban News

By Johnnie Grant

With the holidays fast approaching, five Asheville families are trying to piece their lives back together after a morning explosion on Monday, November 9 destroyed their residences at Hillcrest Apartments.

The scene was chaotic as Asheville Police and firefighters rushed to the 21 building of Hillcrest Apartments, finding the unit engulfed in flames. Neighbors who felt the impact of the explosion ran for cover while others who witnessed the incident looked on in disbelief.

While some residents snapped cell-phone pictures as flames shot out of the building, traffic close by on the I-240 expressway slowed to a crawl in both directions on the Smoky Park Bridge. The blast and smoke could be seen and felt from as far away eastwards as downtown Asheville to the K-Mart Plaza a mile west on Patton Avenue.

Nakia Blakley and his wife, Paula Hayes-Blakeley, lived at apartment 21-D with their two children. Nakia gave his account of what happened: “I was headed towards the door and Paula was sitting at the kitchen table with some friends. All of a sudden I heard this big “BOOM!” I was knocked to the floor, and when I got up and looked around, I saw Paula and her friends lying on the floor too! My first thought was that a plane had crashed into the building! Once we figured that it might have been an explosion of sorts, we all ran for the door. A housing authority employee who was working in a vacant unit was lying on the ground outside, and I thought perhaps he had made a wrong move!”

The maintenance worker, who appeared to have jumped, or was blown from a second story window, was transported to Mission Healthcare Systems for treatment. There were no other injuries, according to the fire department. Everyone else in the 21 building had been accounted for.

Another six families from building unit number 20 were asked to evacuate their units until it was determined if and when the area was safe enough for them to return.

David Nash (center) along with resident Nakia Blakely (left) discuss what happened during the fire at Hillcrest Apartments.  Photo: Urban News

Paula Hayes-Blakeley, standing in a trance with her mother Becky, shared her feeling about what had happened: “It’s time to go!” said Paula. “I’ve had my apartment broken into at the 21 building several times. My children are still frightened by these break-ins, and sleep with my husband and me. I’ve asked to be transferred to a SAFER environment, and not just another troubled housing complex. I’ve been on the waiting list for the last four months, and have been waiting for a response from the Asheville Housing Authority. I feel my transfer must have fallen onto deaf ears. Perhaps someone will respond to my plea now!”
“The children are also upset that their puppy “Trina” is missing after the fire. She is a 15-week old, very friendly, fawn-blue and white pit bull. If anyone has seen her, please bring her back – please,” concluded Paula.

Among those watching and wandering around the area in disbelief was Angel Matthews who lived in the unit where the explosion originated. “I was at the courthouse when I got a call on my cell phone. They told me my house was on fire.” said Angel. “I simply could not believe it! I’m just thankful my children were at school. I don’t know what I’m going to do!”
“It is suspected that a natural gas leak was involved, but nothing will be ruled out,” said David Nash, Assistant Executive Director of Asheville Housing. “We’ll just have to wait for findings from the investigators.”

Housing Authority Executive Director Gene Bell (left), and Mayor Terry Bellamy (far-right), being exscorted to the scene by Asheville Firefighters. Photo: Connie Proctor

The North Carolina SBI and arson task-force investigators are still combing the scene and talking with residents who live in the complex, compiling information that would lead to the exact cause of the explosion. Latest reports suggest that the gas was deliberately leaked and ignited, making it arson rather than accident.

The building, which is a total loss, will cost approximately $400,000 to replace, according to Gene Bell, Executive Director of the Asheville Housing Authority. “We’ve had a unit damaged before by a cigarette fire, but nothing that amounts to this magnitude,” he said.