KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — On Tuesday, Rural Metro Fire said it responded to a large apartment fire off Walker Springs Road in West Knoxville at around 4:15 p.m.
It said the fire at Walker Springs Apartments set off alarms and crews from two firehouses responded. It also asked people to avoid the area while crews worked to extinguish it. Firefighters were still trying to put out active flames at around 4:30 p.m.
Jeff Bagwell, a spokesperson with Rural Metro Fire, said it was Building J and all occupants were accounted for. He said they were working to suppress the fire so there wouldn't be further damage. Building K had some exposure damage, he said, but that crews would be able to prevent further damage.
He said the Knox County Sheriff's Office evacuated adjacent buildings.
He also said that Building J was a total loss. Red Cross was also on scene and helping families find shelter, officials said. Twelve fire trucks responded to the fire, officials said, with over 40 firefighters and two ambulances.
He said around 20 people lived in Building J, and it could take up to 4 hours before the fire was completely out.
He said that it took several weeks to find out the cause of previous apartment fires, so he did not know how long it could take to determine the cause of this one.
"It makes us feel real good that nobody's injured," he said. "Water pressure has been demanding. The water system is good, but when you start flowing this much water this quickly, it can tax it."
He warned that without sprinkler systems, the fire was able to spread quickly. The apartment complex was built before fire codes required it.
He said information about whether any pets were injured was not immediately available. He also said it was "tough work under some pretty tough conditions."
One woman said the flames were a familiar sight, after having been in an apartment fire years before.
"If I didn't have bad luck, I'd have no luck at all," said Elena Davenport, one of the residents there. "I've learned to sort of let go of things since the first time it happened."
One of her cats survived his second fire on Tuesday, along with several other pets in the apartment complex. Her partner, Kordell Young, acted quickly once he noticed the flames and started knocking on doors to get people out.
"As smoke is pouring out we were trying to open doors, banging on doors, trying to get everybody out," Young said.
He ended up rescuing five pets from the burning building and had the chance to reunite them with their owners.