Loudon County Courthouse fire cause undetermined; Losses over $1 million

LOUDON, Tenn. (WATE) - The City of Loudon Fire Department completed the investigation, with support from the state Fire Marshal's office, and review of the Loudon Courthouse fire that brought spectators and multiple fire agencies to the center of town in April. 

Investigators are calling the cause of the fire undetermined. 

The first engines arrived at the courthouse on Grove Street in Loudon just before 6:30 p.m. on April 23 after reports of heavy smoke coming from the bell tower area. From the location of the fire department, once notified, firefighters could see smoke coming out the roof of the courthouse, according to the report. 

Firefighters continued to put water on the fire, in shifts, over the course of a few hours. It took seven fire engines from neighboring departments to put out the fire. Those included fire departments from Greenback, Lenoir City, Loudon County Fire and Rescue, Philadelphia, Tellico Village, and Priority Ambulance EMS. 

Before the fire, the courthouse property was valued at $2,100,000,000. According to the final report, after losses, the property was valued at $981,757.00 and property contents were valued at $100,000,000, which meant final losses totaled $1,081,757.00. 

City of Loudon Fire Chief Mike Brubaker said that although the official cause is undetermined, based on witness interviews, photos before firefighters arrived, and electrical problems within the building before the fire, it "most likely" started due to electrical issues. 

According to the report narrative, due to excessive damage caused by the fire to the attic, coupled with damage and lack of stability, investigators weren't able to closely examine the area where they believe the fire originated. Everything firefighters observed, as written in the report narrative, details that the source of the fire did not start on the second floor and spread, but rather, started in the attic area. 

There were 57 fire personnel on scene from a combined seven departments.

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5/13/19