Fire in historic Gay Street building "suspicious"

Fire in historic Gay Street building "suspicious"

February 27, 2005

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- A three-alarm fire caused heavy damage to an historic Gay Street building early Sunday morning.

Knoxville Fire Chief Carlos Perez says the fire's origin looks suspicious.

The fire broke out around midnight. Witnesses say it appeared to start in the first floor of the Logic Networks building at 300 S. Gay Street, at Summit Hill Drive, in downtown Knoxville.

"The bottom floor, that's sorta where it was," said Adam Holland. I think that's where it started. I don't know though."

Dan Stanley, a resident of a loft condo on the building's third floor, also saw flames on the first floor. "I saw flames through the window where Logic Solutions is. About ten minutes later, flames busted out -- shot out."

Stanley was one of seven condo owners forced out of the building by the fire. Many were sleeping when the fire broke out. All were evacuated safely and no injuries were reported.

Firefighters struggled to contain the fire within the structure, fearing it might spread to other nearby buildings. Years of remodeling and false ceilings aided the fire as it climbed to the roof.

Eventually, the roof collapsed. For several hours, firefighters continued to find hot spots flare up in the upper floors.

Logic Networks, an Internet hosting and Web design company located on the first floor, appeared to be destroyed, but owner Mike Coffey was able to maintain composure as he watched his business go up in flames.

"Just goes to show you can't control everything," Coffey said. "You can plan for it. Disasters can happen."

6 News Reporter STEVE GEHLBACH contributed to this report.