UNION COUNTY, Tenn — The Tennessee Division of Forestry said a wildfire was reported in Union County on Nov. 16 in the southern parts of the county.
It was reported near Satterfield Road and Buck Lane. The Division of Forestry said nine personnel were responding to the wildfire at around 3:22 p.m. Rural Metro said it was up to 100 acres large and the Rural Metro Brush Task Force was joining forces with Union County firefighters to put it out.
The Union County Rescue Squad said it was around 80% contained around 6 p.m. and nobody needed to be evacuated because of the fire. A total of 25 personnel were responding to it at around 4:40 p.m. including a strike team from the Knoxville Fire Department.
Later in the day, Daniel Rice, the Chief of the Paulette Volunteer Fire Department said that the fire could be around 65% contained as of around 9:45 p.m.
The fire destroyed one building — an outbuilding at the site where the fire started, located at 1032 Satterfield Road.
"It's a great thing to have the community backing you and supporting you and trying to help assist to make sure that we are protecting everyone's home," Rice said. "It could have been much worse conditions to where that we could've lost someone's home, their own home, or someone else's home."
Those who live in the area say they were surprised to see a wildfire in their own backyard.
"I was panicking because you don't wake up every morning expecting a wildfire behind your fence line," said Spencer Smith, a community member.
While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, the public and fire chiefs urge people to not burn anything until further notice.
"They must be cautious on what they're doing, not only for their own homes and property but for their neighbors," said Rice.
The fire marked one of several that burned in East Tennessee over the past few days. The entire region has a high fire danger due to breezy winds and dry conditions that can turn underbrush, like leaves or pines, into fuel for wildfires. Burn restrictions are in place in every county.
"Carelessness is probably the biggest cause of outdoor fires right now, and not adhering to the warnings that officials put out there," said Jeff Bagwell, a spokesperson for Rural Metro in Knox County.
Gregory Clay, the director of schools for Union County, said Bus 9 was impacted by the wildfire and could not safely take students home. Around ten students were waiting at Paulette Elementary School to be picked up by parents on Thursday afternoon.
This story will be updated when more information is available.
