May 24, 2012
Roane County fire destroys ambulance
ON SCENE: Roane County business fire
HARRIMAN, Tenn. (WVLT) -- UPDATE: "The flames were just real big and red and coming out of the roof," said Summer Turpin. She describes the flames which gutted an auto shop in Roane County Tuesday night. "Within probably 15 minutes it was just engulfed in flames."
The heat was so intense it melted the siding on a neighboring house. Those inside feared it might trigger an explosion. "Cause it's got gas connected to it," said Turpin.
One day later sunlight gives a better view of just how devastating the fast moving flames are. And deep in the charred rubble, small pockets of stubborn flames still burning. "Those fires that are burning now, it's just little fires, hotspots," said firefighter Greg Cloyd.
Among the burned metal was the blackened shell of a Roane County ambulance. Losing it has some folks worried about response times for future emergencies. "I think they have extra ambulances and stuff. I'm pretty sure," said Cloyd.
Attempts to reach Roane County's emergency management director were unsuccessful. It's unclear how many ambulances are on call in the county. What is clear, these vehicles are very expensive. "$70-$80,000 dollars or more," Cloyd said.
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HARRIMAN, Tenn. (WVLT)- Heavy smoke and flames gut a Roane County auto repair shop overnight.
It happened around midnight-- at Turpin Auto, on McKinney road.
When crews arrived on scene, the business was fully engulfed-- and firefighters began trying to protect the surrounding homes.
No one was hurt, but one neighboring house suffered minor burn damage.
Crews from throughout Roane County spend most of the night fighting the fire, whose cause is still not known.
Turpin Auto does work for area police and ambulance services. It is unclear if any emergency vehicles were in the garage at the time.
