At approximately 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1, 2019, a fire was reported in the recycling yard at Fort Loudon Waste and Recycling located at 2742 Hancock Street. The heavy smoke forced the evacuation of about 100 homes in a 13 block area.

Knoxville Fire Department units are on the scene working to extinguish the fire and hot spots from the burning cardboard and plastic. More than 130 public employees from a number of agencies are on site - battling the fire, routing traffic and getting displaced people to services. The fire team includes about 60 Knoxville firefighters and 42 Knoxville police officers.

Residents are being evacuated away from the area to the Emerald Youth Foundation, located at 1718 Central Street. American Red Cross will be on site at Emerald Youth Foundation.

Salvation Army at 409 N. Broadway is also available for evacuees. They are are opening the air-conditioned gym and providing water and dinner. 


ROAD CLOSURES

• Pershing at Cedar
• Pershing at Atlantic 
• Pershing at W. Morelia 
• Pershing at Radford
• Radford at W. Glenwood 
• Pershing at Banks
• Atlantic at W. Glenwood 
• Burwell at Harvey
• Burwell at Hancock
• Burwell at Cornelia 
• Morelia at Cornelia 
• North Street at McMillan
• Metler at Radford
• Atlantic at McMurray
• Felts at Cedar
• 800 block of Radford


VIDEOS

Watch a 5 p.m. update by the Knoxville Fire & Police Departments on WBIR.com - click here

Watch drone video of the fire by WATE.com - click here

Watch video updates by WVLT.tv - click here


UPDATES ONLINE

Stay up to date with these online resources: 

Knoxville Fire Department on Twitter
Twitter.com/KnoxvilleFire

Knoxville Police Department on Twitter
Twitter.com/Knoxville_PD

Knoxville Police Department on Facebook
Facebook.com/KnoxvillePD