A late-night garage inferno on Keith Avenue left a Knoxville home uninhabitable and a 23-year-old man in custody, but officials say it is a small miracle no one was seriously hurt. Fire crews pulled seven people and five dogs from the house and spent close to an hour beating back heavy flames in an attached garage before finally getting the fire under control. Police and fire investigators stayed on scene into the morning, working to pinpoint how the blaze began.
Police: Man Taken Into Custody
Knoxville police say 23-year-old John Tory was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant for aggravated arson, according to WBIR. KPD told the station the arrest is tied to the ongoing investigation into the Keith Avenue fire, and the case remains active.
Firefighters Battled Heavy Garage Blaze
The Knoxville Fire Department says crews were dispatched to the 2100 block of Keith Avenue just before midnight and spent roughly an hour knocking down a heavy fire in an attached garage, according to WVLT. The outlet reports that seven people and five dogs got out of the structure and that the house suffered extensive fire, smoke and water damage, leaving it uninhabitable.
Investigators Working To Determine Cause
Local reporting identified the property as 2101 Keith Avenue, and WOKI reports that Knoxville fire investigators are still working to determine what sparked the blaze. WBIR adds that police have not released any additional information about a possible motive or whether they anticipate more arrests.
What Aggravated Arson Means
Under Tennessee law, aggravated arson generally applies when a fire is set while one or more people are present and is treated as a Class A felony with steep penalties, according to an overview of the statute. Tennessee law defines aggravated arson under T.C.A. § 39-14-302. An arrest on an outstanding warrant remains an allegation unless and until it is proven in court.
Two Fires In One Night
The Knoxville Fire Department says the Keith Avenue blaze was one of two house fires crews handled overnight. Firefighters also responded to a porch and front-door fire on Stair Avenue around 1:35 a.m., according to WVLT. Authorities are asking anyone with information about the Keith Avenue incident to call the Knoxville Police Department's non-emergency line or submit a tip through the department's online portal.
