KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — UPDATE: (7:31 p.m.) One person was taken into custody in connection to an arson investigation in Fountain City, according to the Knoxville Fire Department.
A KFD spokesperson said Damon True, 41, was captured after setting a fire on the ridge behind Lynnhurst Cemetery. According to a press release, investigators said True walked into a nearby store and told the employee he had set the fire and was going to set another.
KFD investigators, along with the Knoxville Police Department, found True near a business on Old Broadway.
True is being charged with setting fire to personal property or land, which is a felony.
Anyone with information about a fire or who wants to report suspicious activity can call the KFD arson hotline at (865) 637-1386.
KFD also said the term "contained" refers to the fire being contained inside the boundaries of fire lines. Inside that boundary, the fire may still burn. KFD said crews are monitoring the situation to make sure it does not spread outside the fire lines.
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The Knoxville Fire Department said it has contained a brush fire burning on a ridge in Fountain City.
According to KFD, the more-than-2-acre fire is 100% contained and burning on the ridge behind Lynnhurst Cemetery near North Broadway, which is located off Adair Drive near the Fountain City Starbucks. Smoke could be seen in the skyline from I-640, and crews said the dry weather and wind made the initial response somewhat difficult.
Several spots along the ridge could be seen alight with fire from WBIR 10News' tower camera. KFD said the fire was putting out a ton of smoke because it was primarily burning up dry leaves.
KFD said crews will be moving off the ridge and will continue to monitor the fire through the night as it burns out.
Knoxville Fire Department said one structure was threatened. Crews are keeping a close eye on the Buchanan neighborhood and any other buildings located near that ridge.
No evacuations were issued, according to the Knoxville Police Department. Police were helping with traffic and said no roads were closed.
KFD told WBIR 10News a person is in custody in connection to the fire.
Photos: Fountain City ridge brush fire sends tons of smoke up in North Knoxville (Nov. 17)
According to crews, the Tennessee Division of Forestry is helping contain the fire with bulldozers.
It is important for people in East Tennessee to avoid burning anything outdoors right now. Conditions are extremely dry and aren't looking to improve anytime soon, so even small fires have the ability to easily spark up grass fires that could spread into much larger fires.
State-issued burn bans are in effect for Morgan, Rhea and Sevier counties, including Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, due to the fire danger from the severely dry conditions East Tennessee is experiencing.
A burn ban forbids any open-air fire, including:
- Leaves and brush
- Fence rows and ditch banks
- Construction debris boards, plywood, decking, cardboard, etc.
- Fields and grassland
- Gardens
- Wooded areas
- Campfires and cooking fires
- Charcoal or wood-fired grills (does not include natural or propane gas-fired grills)
- Burn barrels
- Air curtain destructors
- Fireworks
The burn ban will be enforced by local law enforcement officers. According to officials, Violation of the ban is considered reckless burning and is punishable as a Class A misdemeanor.
Violators of the ban could face a Class A misdemeanor charge, which carries a penalty of up to $2,500 in fines and up to one year in jail.
“With the current dry conditions and low humidity values, the risk of wildfires is very high,” Sevier County Fire & Rescue Chief David Puckett said. “A single spark could ignite a wildfire that could threaten lives and property.”
This story is developing and will be updated as more information is available.