Fire blazes and destroys
Back-to-back fires broke loose in North Knoxville on Feb. 2.
The Gas Mart on Clinton Highway and a home at 5109 Kohlmier Road were consumed by flames.
Knoxville Fire Department firefighters pulled hoses across all four lanes of Clinton Highway, in an attempt to extinguish flames at The Gas Mart. They set up barricades to block the roadway and protect the hoses while they worked.
A motorist apparently ignored the barricades and drove around them. Then, he ran over the fire hoses that were extinguishing the flames.
Knoxville Police Department Officer Eric Parks ran out in front of the vehicle. In an attempt to keep from being ran over by the motorist, Parks stumbled and his hand was sliced open by glass on the side view mirror.
Daniel Eugene Moore, 30, was charged Moore with drunken driving, violation of the implied consent law, possession of marijuana, driving on a suspended license, reckless endangerment and driving over a fire hose. He is being held at the Knox County jail.
As firefighters worked to contain the fire at The Gas Mart, the call about the residence at 5109 Kohlmier Road came into the station. The call was made by a concerned neighbor.
Flames were shooting out of the house when through the roof of the house when emergency personnel arrived at the house.
They attempted to to wake up anyone who might be inside the house.
Thankfully, officers were notified that the couple who lived into the house were out of town during the blaze.
No one was injured at the residence. An investigation to determine the cause of the fire is underway.
