No one was injured in a suspicious Sunday morning fire that destroyed a home on Hillside Road, authorities said. (Photos by Tom Scott)
No one was injured, but a home was destroyed in a suspicious Sunday morning fire on Hillside Road, Oak Ridge Fire Chief Darryl Kerley said.
“It’s under investigation, but it appears to be suspicious in nature,” Kerley said.
The renters at the home were moving to Knoxville, and most of their belongings had been removed, Kerley said. The home had no power or utilities, and no one was home at the time of the fire.
The 4:08 a.m. fire at 148 Hillside Road scorched paint and broke windows at an adjacent house.
Oak Ridge Fire Department Captain Mike Friley, left, and Firefighter Duane Chase use a hose to battle a Sunday morning blaze at a Hillside Road home.
It was completely in flames when the Oak Ridge Police Department arrived early Sunday morning. Kerley estimated it had been probably been burning about 15 minutes.
“It was probably a set fire,” he said.
He said it took firefighters about an hour to get the blaze under control. The house was leaning to one side, so after firefighters finished their interviews and took all the photographs they needed, they allowed the home to continue burning to keep it from falling onto the neighor’s property.
Firefighter Mark White is pictured above on the fire engine. Firefighter Brandon Payne is at left in the center of the photo, and Firefighter Greg Logan is at right.
Kerley said 14 firefighters, three engines, and tower and rescue trucks all responded.
Authorities are asking anyone with more information on the fire to call the Tennessee Arson Hotline at (800) 762-3017. There are no suspects yet, Kerley said.
Although the fire cracked windows at the neighbor’s house, the residents there will be able to stay in their house, Kerley said.
State records show the home is owned by Sylvester Niner of Clinton.
It took the Oak Ridge Fire Department about an hour to control this blaze. Fourteen firefighters, three engines, and tower and rescue trucks responded.
Fire destroys a Hillside Road home just north of Central Baptist Church at about 4 a.m. Sunday morning.
ORFD Capt. Eric Mocsari directs firefighters on the hose stream
Jason Allison says
Hats off to ORFD. This was a large fire and they did an outstanding job protecting the exposures and limiting damage to just paint and cracked windows. I live in the Woodland neiborhood and the flames could be clearly seen.
John Huotari says
I drove by yesterday evening, and it was still smoking. A police officer was stationed nearby, presumably to keep an eye on it.
Jason Allison says
Sunday night there was a specialist unit and the rescue truck there looked as. They were combing through what was left. Monday afternoon some neighbors were out with a garden hose spraying hot spots and not too much longer after that FD was called back out.