Daryl Sullivan/The Daily Times

Blount County firefighters work to extinguish an overnight house fire on Sam Jones Road.

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Man killed in house fire

By Jessica Stith
of The Daily Times Staff
Originally published: September 30. 2008 3:03AM
Last modified: September 30. 2008 11:11AM

A man was found dead as firefighters extinguished a blaze at a house on Sam James Road this morning.

Blount County firefighters responded to the fire at about 11:30 p.m. on the report of a fire that was possibly at an abandoned house at 3014 Sam James Road. Upon arrival, firefighters saw heavy flames and were told that there may be a man inside of the residence.

Firefighters battled the blaze that spread through the two-story house and basement, Blount County Fire Chief Doug McClanahan. Ammunition in the house crackled, posing a danger for the firefighters.

“Fire in the second story had already vented through the roof when we got here,” McClanahan said.

McClanahan said the ceiling of the main level was also the floor of the upper level, making it hard to break through to fight the flames. They were also concerned about the roof caving in while they were inside of the house.

Firefighters searched the house four times while the house was burning, trying to look for anyone inside. At about 1:20 a.m., a man was found on the main level toward the back of the house. The man’s identity will be released after an autopsy is performed, McClanahan said.

Blount County firefighters were still on scene throughout the early morning hours today.

“There’s still quite a few hot spots in the house,” McClanahan said.

Gene James lives next door to the house that caught fire, and said that one man lived at the residence and had several pets — including over 50 cats. McClanahan said that only one cat and one dog had been found dead in the house by about 1:30 a.m.

James said that at about 7:15 p.m., he noticed a cloud forming around his neighbor’s house, but thought it was fog. At about 10:30 p.m., he said some of his friends said that it appeared there was smoke around the house.

McClanahan said that it was unknown exactly when the fire started, or where the fire originated in the house. A fire investigator from the Blount County Sheriff’s Office was investigating the fire.

For more details, check back at www.thedailytimes.com or read Wednesday's edition of The Daily Times.