Corbin firefighters investigating suspicious fire at Carter Street home

Corbin firefighters are still working to determine what caused the cause of fire that damaged a former daycare facility in east Corbin Sunday night.

Firefighters were called to the scene at 908 Carter Street behind Baptist Housing just before 11 p.m.

“The back end was on fire. It was burning pretty good,” said Chief Barry McDonald when asked what firefighters saw when they arrived.

Police officers told firefighters the individuals were in the process of moving out.

A variety of toys remained scattered in the front and back yards.

McDonald said firefighters made entry through the front door and worked their way toward the back where the kitchen and storage areas were located.

Firefighters performed a primary search as they attacked the fire, but found no one inside.

Captain Chad Jackson said firefighters had the flames knocked down within 15 minutes.

“It went up into the roof and attic area,” McDonald said of the fire adding that a large amount of insulation had been blown into the attic making it harder for firefighters to ensure the blaze was extinguished.

“Our guys had to pull down all the sheet rock from the ceiling to make sure they had knocked out all the hotspots. They looked like they had been wallowing in snow the way they were covered in insulation,” McDonald said.

Off duty firefighters were called to assist. A total of 15 firefighters were on scene.

Firefighters were on scene until approximately 1:30 a.m. performing salvage and overhaul.

Captain Eric Philpot said he was at the site Tuesday and spoke with the homeowner, but did not find anything definitive as far as a cause.

However, nothing at the scene indicated arson, he said.

Knox County EMS and Corbin Utilities Commission personnel also responded to the scene Sunday.