By Ben Benton
The Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tennessee)
DUNLAP, Tenn. — A blaze at the Sequatchie County Highway Department injured a county employee Monday and destroyed the facility, officials said.
The building on State Street in Dunlap was engulfed in flames when authorities got to the scene, said Norman Hatfield, Dunlap’s deputy volunteer fire chief.
“Right now, we’ve got a burned-out shell of a building,” Mr. Hatfield said. “The building is destroyed.”
Mr. Hatfield said a man who works for the county was injured in the fire and flown to Erlanger hospital in Chattanooga.
The victim was listed in stable condition about 6 p.m. CDT Monday, County Executive Michael Hudson said.
“We don’t know enough to be able to say” what started the fire, which ignited in the garage area, he said.
“According to the bookkeeper, she heard something and when she opened her door all she saw was fire everywhere,” he said.
E-911 Director Mike Twitty said there were initial reports of an explosion, but officials haven’t determined what started the fire or confirmed that an explosion was involved.
Mr. Hatfield said the building once belonged to the Tennessee Department of Transportation, and parts of it might be 80 years old or more, he said.
Mr. Hudson said he got to the scene a few minutes after the fire started.
“I got a call from the 911 Center, and I came straight over here,” he said. “I just saw the building in flames.”
The fire claimed at least one piece of county road equipment and all the contents of the office, Mr. Hudson said.
“Of course, equipment’s not important,” he said. “It’s the crew.”
The injured employee could be sent to Vanderbilt Medical Center for further treatment, he said.
Copyright 2008 Chattanooga Publishing Company