A fire at Spring Meadows Apartments in Knoxville resulted in one injury and several people and animals being displaced, according to officials from the Knoxville Fire Department. The fire that broke out Monday afternoon in the 3100 block of Washington Ridge Way is reportedly the second such incident in this complex this year. The previous fire took place in a different building on May 12, as firefighters were reminded of their earlier efforts in the spring, according to information obtained by WVLT.
The call came in at 4:57 p.m., with responders arriving to tackle the blaze by 5 p.m. Efforts by building management and maintenance personnel to rescue a male victim were described by WBIR as unsuccessful, preceding the arrival of the fire department. The victim was later taken to a local hospital and remains under medical care.
In their investigation into the incident, KFD identified unattended cooking on a stovetop as the cause of the fire. "Cooking fires remain the most common cause of home fires in the nation and locally," KFD stated to WATE. The fire took hold quickly but was extinguished by firefighters within minutes of their arrival.
KFD is on scene of a working fire 3112 Washington Ridge way at the Spring Meadows Apartments. pic.twitter.com/SW1KrEkICE
— Knoxville Fire (@KnoxvilleFire) October 13, 2025
The damage from the fire rendered one apartment uninhabitable, with smoke and water damaging to the point where it affected other units in varying degrees. Rescue attempts during the fire by the building staff, detailed in statements provided by KFD, emphasize the urgency with which these events unfolded. The American Red Cross has stepped in to assist the nine people and numerous animals who were displaced as a result of the fire.
