Residents of Knoxville and those near Fountain City witnessed a brush fire on Sharp's Ridge ignited yesterday afternoon. As reported by WVLT, the Knoxville Fire Department responded quickly to the scene. They joined forces with the Tennessee Division of Forestry to take on the blaze, which, by early evening, was estimated to cover some 10 acres.
Despite the potential severity of the fire, both agencies worked diligently, containing it to a significant extent before nightfall. "At around 7:30 p.m., Wilbanks said the fire was estimated to be 10 acres in size and 25%," Mark Wilbanks of KFD stated, as reported by WVLT. According to several sources, including a WBIR report, no structures were threatened by the flames, reassuring nearby residents concerned about property damage.
Eventually, by 10:30 p.m., the collective efforts of the responding teams paid off. The Division of Forestry confirmed that the brush fire was fully contained. The successful containment did not appear to threaten any towers atop the ridge, ensuring that such infrastructure remained unharmed. Caught by cameras, plumes of smoke that earlier billowed into the sky were a testament to the fire's initial intensity, with visibility stretching to downtown areas.
