Knoxville News-Sentinel
NIOTA, Tenn. — A weekend fire that destroyed an antique-car repair garage owned by the Niota fire chief appears to be “suspicious in nature.”
Investigators are ruling the fire “incendiary” in nature and origin and are seeking information about its cause, according to the state Fire Marshal’s Office.
The fire was reported about 8:30 a.m. Sunday at 920 County Road 316 in Niota and caused an estimated $650,000 in damages. It took 30 to 40 firefighters and tankers from 10 fire districts to put out the fire.
The garage is owned by Alvin Shoemaker, the Union Grove Volunteer Fire Department chief. He has no insurance, according to Chief Harold Eaton of the McMinn County Rescue Squad/Athens Rural Fire Department.
Union Grove firefighters and the McMinn County Rescue Squad discovered the garage in flames as well as a nearby recreational vehicle, according to a Fire Marshal’s news release Friday.
The Union Grove Fire Department, which is behind the garage and shares the address, was not damaged. Several antique cars were burned as well as the garage, whose owners were out of town at the time of the fire.
Anyone who has information about the cause of the fire is urged to call the Arson Hot Line (1-800-762-3017).
Callers may remain anonymous when providing information. Cash rewards are offered for information leading to an arrest or conviction.
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