KFD puts out two consecutive overnight fires near Mechanicsville

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - The Knoxville Fire Department was working multiple structure fires early Thursday morning.

The first fire happened around 1:00 a.m. at a church on Beaumont Avenue when a caller advised a fire was coming from the basement. KFD Spokesperson Mark Wilbanks said due to heavy fire and changing conditions, fire fighters were forced to pull out of the structure and put the fire out from the outside. The fire was under control by 3:00 a.m. and no injuries were reported.

Wilbanks said investigators aren’t sure if the church was still in use or vacated. Several people were believed to be illegally occupying the basement.

While crews were battling the Beaumont fire, Wilbanks said another fire happened less than a mile away at a home at 1401 W Baxter Avenue. Fire fighters were able to quickly get it under control.

That home appeared to be vacant at the time but was occupied by several people not authorized to be in the structure. No injuries were also reported.

Investigators are now working to figure out what started both of these fires.

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