Dec. 02--KNOXVILLE -- Eighteen people were forced out of their residences when a fire erupted at their South Knoxville apartment building, officials said.
The fire was reported about 8:30 a.m. by a resident who was awakened by the smoke alarm in her unit at the Southmont Apartments, 1415 Moody Ave. She was able to escape the building with her baby without injury and then called E-911, said Knoxville Fire Department Capt. D.J. Corcoran.
Firefighters arrived to find flames shooting through the windows and front door of the woman's apartment, which blocked the only stairwell that other second-floor residents could escape from, he said.
Fire crews contained the flames to the single apartment before the fire could spread through a common attic, which ran the length of the building.
Accessing the fire through the attic, firefighters were able to push back the flames, which allowed the other residents on the floor to escape.
The fire was contained by 8:46 a.m. and no injuries were reported, Corcoran said.
Fire investigators said the fire appeared to have started in the woman's kitchen. Several other apartments in the 10-unit building suffered smoke and water damage.
Nine of the units were occupied at the time, Corcoran said.
All of the building's residents were temporarily displaced due to the power being shut down.
The American Red Cross also responded to the scene within the hour.
"Disaster volunteers have assisted two families so far and are assessing the needs of other residents," said Red Cross spokesman Stan Gibert.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The Red Cross currently is seeking additional volunteers in the Knoxville the area. Anyone interested may call 865-584-2999.
More details as they develop online and in Monday's News Sentinel.
Copyright 2012 - The Knoxville News-Sentinel, Tenn.
