Business fire being called suspicious

Back to Neighborhood Knox County
Updated: 8:32 AM Dec 15, 2008 Business fire being called suspicious Thirty firefighters, eight fire trucks, and a hazmat team were all called to a business fire late Friday evening. Posted: 11:55 PM Dec 12, 2008

Font Size:

Knoxville (WVLT) - Thirty firefighters, eight fire trucks, and a hazmat team were all called to a business fire late Friday evening. Firefighters are investigating whether someone intentionally set fire to the Global Tire Service business on East Magnolia Avenue. Investigators say the fire started around 7:30 p.m.

One witness who says he was inside the building when the fire broke out, tells us a man walked into the business, but was asked to leave. That's when the witness says the man went behind the building and started the fire. Another witness, Earnest Ekwuribe says, "I'm surprised, I'm in shock, I'm flabbergasted I don't know what to say."

Captain Brent Seymour with the Knoxville Fire Department says, "When our initial commander arrived on the scene he found heavy fire showing through the roof of the building." Firefighters describe the possible suspect as a white male in his late 40's, wearing a blue shirt and khaki pants. He was last seen walking East on Magnolia Avenue. If you have any information about this incident contact the Knoxville Fire Investigation Unit at 637-1386.

Knoxville firefighters were also busy working another fire that forced the evacuation of an apartment building. That fire started around 7:00pm at the Stonewall Apartments on Sevierville Pike. Fire investigators believe the fire was a result of cooking grease left on a stove. They say no one was hurt and the fire was contained to one apartment.