Early this morning, the Memphis Fire Department responded to a house fire in Midtown, specifically in the 2500 block of Union Avenue. According to WREG, the blaze was significant enough to attract a quick response from emergency services, working diligently to extinguish the flames.
The situation was serious enough to necessitate the closure of Union Avenue for several hours, impacting early morning traffic. Memphis Police had received the initial call around 5:30 a.m., and upon the firefighters' arrival, they were able to quickly ascertain that the occupant of the house had made it out safely. The road closure was announced by the Memphis Fire Department to remain in effect for part of the morning, as they proceeded to fully secure the scene, as reported by Local Memphis.
Thankfully, no injuries were reported. This was due, in large part, to the fact that the home was equipped with a smoke detector that functionally alerted the residents to the danger, allowing them to evacuate in time. The Memphis Fire Department emphasized the importance of these devices and reminded residents that smoke detectors can be requested at any fire station or at the Fire Museum of Memphis.
The house, while damaged, is not expected to be a complete loss. The firefighters were able to contain the fire quickly, preventing it from spreading to neighboring properties. "The entire house was not burned," MFD said, offering a glimmer of hope for the future restoration of the home. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and roadways were to stay closed for a few more hours while this process was underway, according to information obtained from FOX13 Memphis.
