Fire damages home on U.S. 25; arson investigators trying to determine cause

West Knox Firefighters work to contain a blaze that damaged a home on U.S. 25 Monday.

Woody Asher and Shawn Henderson were driving by the home at 8614 U.S. 25 Monday morning when they saw smoke pouring out of the home and stopped.

When neighbors mentioned that the elderly man who lived there may still be inside, the duo kicked open the front door and tried to get inside.

“The smoke was so thick, we only got about three or four feet inside the front door before we had to get out,” Henderson said.
“We yelled and yelled,” Asher added. “We were just hoping some poor guy was not inside suffering smoke inhalation.”
After speaking with neighbors, who noticed one of the man’s vehicles was not in the driveway, Lily firefighters confirmed the man was not at home.

His identity was not immediately available.

Lily and Campground firefighters were called to the scene at 11:26.

“Laurel dispatch received multiple calls from neighbors,” said Melva Pearce, public affairs officer for the Lily Fire Department.
The first firefighters arrived on the scene within four minutes to find heavy smoke and flames shooting from the home. West Knox Firefighters were paged for manpower and equipment.

Firefighters made entry at several points and had the fire contained by 11:47.

Pearce said the cold weather made the extra manpower vital.

“The firefighters get hot and sweaty when they are fighting the fire in their turnout gear,” Pearce explained. “When they get away from the fire in the cold, it hurts them.”

The Laurel County Fire Department sent its cascade truck to refill the firefighters’ air bottles.

Traffic on U.S. 25 was reduced to one lane while firefighters battled the blaze. Laurel County Sheriff’s deputies provided traffic control.

In addition, a unit from Ambulance Inc. of Laurel County stood by on the scene.

“Even after we have verified there is no one inside, the ambulance remains on the scene to help care for the firefighters,” Pearce said.

Pearce added that Kentucky State Police arson investigators have been called to the scene.

“We couldn’t find anything to say, “This was the cause,’” Pearce said.