Knoxville fire investigators say a late-night blaze inside a downtown storage building was no accident. A 46-year-old Knoxville man, Christopher Kirkpatrick, is now charged with aggravated arson after multiple fires were set inside an occupied building on March 24. Crews arrived in time to knock down several small blazes, and officials say the structure escaped with only minimal damage. Kirkpatrick was arrested on separate charges four days later and remains in custody at the county detention center.
Multiple Fires Inside Downtown Storage Site
Assistant Chief Mark Wilbanks said Knoxville Fire Department crews were dispatched to Store Space at 201 Randolph St. at 11:09 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24. When firefighters got inside, they found several fires burning in different areas of the building.
"Crews put out the fires with minimal damage to the building," Wilbanks said. Because other people were inside at the time, KFD fire investigators charged 46-year-old Christopher Kirkpatrick with one count of aggravated arson, according to WVLT.
What Aggravated Arson Means In Tennessee
Under Tennessee law, a basic arson case is upgraded to aggravated arson when a fire is set while one or more people are inside the structure, or when someone suffers serious bodily injury as a result. That includes first responders such as firefighters or law enforcement officers.
Aggravated arson is a Class A felony in Tennessee, which means it can bring a prison sentence that stretches for decades. For a breakdown of the elements of the crime and potential penalties, see FindLaw.
Arrest, Custody And What Happens Next
Wilbanks said Kirkpatrick was taken into custody by the Knoxville Police Department on unrelated charges on March 28. After that arrest, KFD investigators presented the arson case to charging authorities, as reported by WVLT.
Kirkpatrick is being held at the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility while the investigation continues. At the time of reporting, it was not immediately clear whether the Knox County district attorney had entered formal criminal charges in public court records.
Downtown Location And Recent Arson Concerns
The March 24 fires broke out inside a property operated as Store Space Self Storage at 201 Randolph St., a downtown facility listed on the operator's site. The building has been used commercially for storage and related tenants.
The case comes on the heels of other arson investigations in Knoxville this winter, including earlier incidents covered by local outlets and summarized in coverage of a fire that endangered seven people and pets.
Investigators are still gathering evidence in the Randolph Street case. Anyone with information about the March 24 incident is asked to contact the Knoxville Fire Department or the Knoxville Police Department. Officials have not yet released additional details about a possible motive, any injuries, or upcoming court dates.
