Unidentified body found after reported explosion in Black Mountain

Emergency personnel respond to incident at the Apple Blossom Motel

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
May 31, 2022

Black Mountain emergency personnel located the body of an unidentified person, May 30, after responding to reports of an explosion at the Apple Blossom Motel. Photo by Fred McCormick

A reported explosion at the Apple Blossom Motel, on the evening of May 30, led local authorities to discover the body of an unidentified person. 

Black Mountain emergency personnel responded to a call at 602 West State Street, around 10:30 p.m., when they located a deceased individual in one of the rooms. 

The identity of the person found at the scene remains unknown, according to Black Mountain Police Chief Steve Parker. 

“It could take several days for us to identify the person and notify the family,” Parker said. 

Officers responded to reports of an explosion and subsequent fire, originating from one of the motel’s 21 rooms. An investigation into the cause of the blaze is ongoing, the chief said. 

“The (State Bureau of Investigation) is working collaboratively with us on the investigation,” said Parker, who added that few details were available at this time. 

No other injuries were reported in the incident, according to the department, and the origin of the reported explosion has yet to be determined.