A fast-moving fire ripped through a North Knox County home Saturday, leaving one house heavily damaged and a neighboring property scorched by heat, but with no reported injuries to people or pets.
Rural Metro Fire crews pulled up to the 800 block of Whitesburg Road to find the home nearly consumed by flames, with fire already in the attic and intensifying. All occupants and their pets were safely outside by the time firefighters arrived, according to a Facebook post from Rural Metro Fire - Knox County.
As teams attacked the main blaze, heat from the burning structure damaged a second house next door. Multiple companies worked both the original fire and the threatened neighboring home, the department said. Investigators believe the fire started in the garage and are reviewing the scene to determine the exact cause.
The Facebook update from Rural Metro Fire - Knox County notes that crews were dispatched to a reported house fire and arrived to find the structure almost completely engulfed. The post states that all occupants and pets were already out of the home and that multiple companies split efforts between defending the neighboring house and knocking down the original blaze. It also provided a contact number, 865-321-8613, and linked to the department’s website for ongoing updates.
Membership-Based Fire Protection in North Knox
Rural Metro operates as a membership-based fire department serving unincorporated Knox County, according to Rural Metro Fire. The site outlines the agency’s emergency-response services and community programs, and explains how residents can verify coverage in their neighborhood.
The department’s page also notes that response fees may apply for non-members and lists central contact options for anyone with questions about coverage and membership.
Cause Still Under Investigation
The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation. Flames “gained access into the attic and grew in intensity,” according to the Facebook post from Rural Metro Fire - Knox County. Officials did not report any injuries and have not released a damage estimate.
Anyone with information or questions about the incident was directed to call the number provided by Rural Metro or visit the department’s website for updates.
