Smoke billows from a house fire at 1635 Matthews Place. Image courtesy of KFD

This morning at 9:12 a.m., the Knox County Emergency Communications District received an urgent 911 call reporting heavy smoke in the vicinity of Woodland Avenue on Matthews Place. Upon arrival, the Knoxville Fire Department (KFD) discovered a significant fire at the residence located at 1635 Matthews Place.

Firefighters immediately entered the home and found that the blaze had originated in the kitchen and had spread to the attic space and exterior walls of the building. Despite the challenging conditions due to the fire's considerable head start, KFD crews worked diligently for approximately 30 minutes to bring the fire under control.

The kitchen area was severely damaged by fire and smoke. Image courtesy of KFD

Fortunately, no one was at home during the incident, and the homeowner has been notified of the situation. Smoke alarms were active and sounding upon the fire department's arrival, which is a critical safety feature that likely aided in recognizing the emergency early on.

While there were no reported injuries, the residence has sustained extensive damage from the fire, smoke, and water used during firefighting efforts. KFD fire investigators are currently on the scene to determine the cause of the fire, working to uncover the circumstances that led to this unfortunate event. Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.