A significant fire at Greenbrier Ridge Apartments in Knoxville has left multiple families without a home and resulted in injuries. Last night, the Knoxville Fire Department responded to an emergency call at 6:23 p.m., where an apartment caught fire which quickly spread to adjacent units, as reported by WBIR.
In less than an hour and a half, the fire was brought under control by the KFD, but not before it rendered more than half of the building a total loss, and made 10 units uninhabitable. As noted by WVLT, 15 people, including the owners of two dogs and one cat, have been displaced. Windy conditions on the night of the incident played a role in the rapid spread of the fire, and multiple occupants had no choice but to leap from their third-floor balconies to escape the flames.
Three people were taken to the hospital with undisclosed injuries, and one dog was sent to an emergency vet for treatment. "The fire was deemed under control by 7:45, but more than half of the building is a total loss. 10 units in the building are uninhabitable," WVLT quoted KFD in their report. Meanwhile, the fire department suspects that the blaze originated from a lower apartment on the back side of the structure.
Additionally, as the flames were being extinguished, the water used by the fire department began to freeze on the roadways, posing a further hazard for responders and residents alike. KFD shared this concern, "when KFD arrived on scene they saw heavy smoke and fire coming from the building," Assistant Fire Chief Mark Wilbanks told WATE. After the fire was contained, salt crews were on standby to treat the icy conditions.
The incident has left the community rallying around those affected by the fire as investigations continue to determine its exact cause. Furthermore, Assistant Fire Chief Mark Wilbanks, who was interviewed on-scene by WATE, provided updates and insights into the fire department's response. Knoxville residents are now faced with the challenge of rebuilding after this devastating event.
