GREENBACK (WATE) - Two seemingly unrelated incidents had residents
in Greenback on edge Saturday evening.
The first incident, a fire at WYKO Tire Industries at 6435
Highway 411 South, forced officials to evacuate nearby residents. A
6 News viewer said officials told him there was a threat of
explosion due to chemicals stored for use at WYKO.
The second incident, a bomb threat at nearby Viper Customs 5820
US Highway 411 South, was cause for officials to evacuate about 40
homes near Old Niles Fairy Road in Maryville.
Officials with Blount County say Highway 411 South was closed
around 6:30 p.m. Saturday while the bomb threat was investigated.
The Knoxville Bomb Squad was placed on standby in case a bomb was
found.
The Red Cross has set up a shelter for those evacuated at
Springview Church at 4220 US Highway 411 South in Maryville.
A Knox County Sheriff’s Office bomb dog found no sign of a bomb at a
Greenback business; and all residents evacuated after a 5:15 p.m.
bomb threat are being allowed back home while U.S. 411 South —
closed because of the threat — is reopened, officials said.
According to Blount County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Marian
O’Briant, residents from the 40 or so homes that were ordered
evacuated were notified they could go home at 9:20 p.m.
Less than an hour earlier, the Red Cross had set up a shelter at
Springview Baptist Church near Maryville, officials said.
The threat was directed at Viper Customs, a boat detailing and
repair business, at 5820 U.S. 411, according to Blount County E-911
dispatchers said.
Knox County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Martha Dooley confirmed
that KCSO had sent a bomb-sniffing dog to the scene.
Greenback Fire Department was the primary responder and they were
assisted by personnel from Blount County Sheriff’s Office, Blount
County Fire Department, Rural/Metro and Tennessee Emergency
Management Agency.
Update: Greenback
firefighters extinguish blaze at Wyco plant
News Sentinel staff
Firefighters extinguished a blaze at a Greenback business late
Saturday afternoon, officials said.
Greenback Volunteer Fire
Department personnel at 6:30 p.m. left the Wyko Tire Technology
plant at 6435 U.S. 411 South, according to Loudon County E-911
dispatchers.
No injuries were reported in the 5:03 p.m. fire, officials
said.
Dispatchers said one caller talked of hearing an explosion
and then saw a building on fire at the business.
Greenback Volunteer Fire Department responded to the blaze.
Personnel also were responding to a 5:15 p.m. bomb threat just
down the road at the Viper Customs at 4820 U.S. 411 South.