In Knoxville, eight people were displaced after an apartment fire on Piedmont Street. The Knoxville Fire Department responded to the blaze last night. Assistant Chief Mark Wilbanks told WVLT, "KFD crews immediately attempted to attack the fire on the interior of the building but were pushed back due to the heavy volume of fire." The firefighters had to retreat and fight the fire from outside using a ladder truck to bring the fire under control before reentering the building to finish extinguishing the flames. The fire started in a small building containing four apartments in the 2400 block of Piedmont Street.
A call came in at 5:33 p.m., prompting a swift response from emergency services. Despite the intense situation, no injuries have been confirmed, although the flames left six adults and two children without a home, WBIR reported. The Knoxville Police Department lent their assistance, handling road closures and providing translation support due to a language barrier faced during the incident.
The displaced residents are currently receiving assistance from the American Red Cross. Three dogs also escaped the fire unharmed, as mentioned by WATE.
Investigations are actively underway to determine what caused the fire.
