A massive blaze that devoured a South Knoxville building early this morning has led to the arrest of 37-year-old Rachel Carolyn Hall, who has been charged with reckless burning, according to the Knoxville Fire Department. Hall was reportedly using the recently vacated two-story garage as shelter when a candle she lit ignited the building located at Phillips Avenue and McCormick Street.
Firefighters were summoned to the scene around 3:55 a.m. after receiving multiple distress calls, stated KFD spokesperson Mark Wilbanks. The inferno was aggressive enough to be visible from James White Parkway. Hall attempted to rapidly flee and conceal herself in the proximity following the initiation of the fire, but was found by fire investigators. "KFD said that during the investigation, Knoxville Fire Investigators located a suspect near the scene," WATE reported.
The presence of propane gas tanks and oxygen tanks posed a significant threat to the firefighters tasked with extinguishing the flames. Nonetheless, the Knoxville Fire Department managed to smother the fire by 4:44 a.m., and thankfully, no injuries were reported amid the chaotic scramble to navigate the hazards. The storage building, previously occupied by a roofing company, was declared a complete loss as a result of the fire, KFD officials confirmed.
Hall, who disclosed to investigators that she was homeless, said she "had lit a candle that set the floor on fire," according to statements obtained by WBIR and WVLT. She is currently being held at the Knox County Detention Facility. The incident underscores the oft-ignored perils faced by the homeless, as the quest for shelter can unexpectedly turn to tragedy. The investigation into the exact circumstances of the fire remains ongoing.
