Emergency responders were called to a scene of a structural collapse in Cocke County on Sunday evening, where a two-story building had fallen onto a vehicle. The Pittman Center Volunteer Fire Department, offering their mutual aid, was quick to respond to the incident, which took place on Hartford Road. WVLT reported that one person was trapped and subsequently rescued by the fire crews.
Fire Chief Leonard Riggins of the Pittman Center Community Fire Department stated that emergency crews were swiftly attempting to make their way to the area to manage the situation. "Members of the Pittman Center Community Fire Department are responding under a mutual aid request to Cocke County for a reported two-story structure collapse onto a vehicle in the area of Hartford Road," Riggins stated in information obtained by WBIR. The collapse prompted officials to caution drivers to avoid the Hartford Road area as operations were ongoing.
The incident, occurring around 9 p.m., saw the Pittman Center VFD and other responding agencies work together in a critical moment to ensure the victim was extracted safely. The department requested the public to stay clear of the affected area to facilitate rescue operations. By approximately 9:50 p.m., the Pittman Center VFD had completed its operations and announced the successful rescue of the individual involved.
"We appreciate the cooperation of the public and the continued partnership of responding agencies," the Pittman Center VFD expressed in a statement to the public, an address that WATE conveyed. The collective effort underlines the community's commitment to quick and efficient emergency responses in unforeseen situations such as this structural collapse. The condition of the rescued person is yet to be publicly shared. More details will likely unfold as investigations into the cause of the collapse continue.
