By Don Jacobs
Knoxville News-Sentinel
CARYVILLE, Tenn. — A Caryville fireworks store that erupted in flames Tuesday morning was outfitted with a sprinkler system, but the system had been experiencing problems and wasn’t functioning properly, the business owner said.
Firefighters from six fire departments tackled the flames that erupted about 2:30 a.m. at Thunder Mountain Fireworks, 292 John McGhee Blvd., according to Caryville Fire Chief Eddie Hatmaker.
“When we got there, flames were shooting through the roof,” Hatmaker said. “Fireworks were shooting everywhere.”
Concern about the fireworks, thickening smoke and the potential for explosions prompted authorities to close the northbound lanes of Interstate 75 for about 20 minutes, Hatmaker said.
Law enforcement officers also evacuated a nearby motel and an apartment building, Hatmaker said. Those people were allowed to return to their rooms after about an hour.
Hatmaker said about 50 firefighters battled the flames — and fireworks — until about 5:30 a.m. By 8 a.m. they were able to leave the scene after assuring there were no embers left to reignite the flames.
Lansden E. Hill Jr., who owns the fireworks store, was on the scene at 3 a.m. He said he built the 6,000-square-foot metal building in 1987. Hill, who also is CEO and president of Pyro Shows in La-Follette, said he recently had problems with the sprinkler system.
“There is a sprinkler system in the building, but I’m not sure it was activated,” Hill said. “It was scheduled to be repaired soon. It’s very frustrating.”
Hill said the sprinkler system is pressurized with air but recently has been losing compression, indicating a leak. Whether the system was off or didn’t activate because of pressure problems, it did not send water cascading onto flames.
“That may have been the difference between having the building or not,” he said. “I’d much rather have wet fireworks and a building.”
Hill said he does carry insurance, “but probably not enough to cover all the losses.” He was unable to provide a dollar estimate on the loss of his inventory and building.
The store had closed at 8 or 9 p.m. Memorial Day and employed up to a dozen people.
“From Memorial Day to the Fourth of July is the busiest time for fireworks,” Hill said. “We’re out of the mix right now for this season.”
Hill said he hopes to rebuild the business.
Despite the loss of the building, Hill praised the response of firefighters to the scene.
“I think the firefighters’ response was spectacular,” he said.
Hatmaker said when crews arrived five minutes after the initial call, they immediately requested help from nearby agencies. Firefighters and equipment from the fire departments in LaFollette, Jacksboro, Pinecrest, Ridgewood and Campbell County Rural Fire Services joined the battle. No one was injured.
Hatmaker said because of the size of the building he has asked the state fire marshal’s office to join in the probe of how the fire began.
While the building is a loss, Hatmaker said firefighters were able to save George, the 36-foot-tall dragon outside the store that beckoned drivers on I-75 to visit.
On June 5, 1997, four people were killed in an explosion at Pyro Shows’ storage depot just outside LaFollette, Tenn.
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