2 die in West Knox house fire

KNOXVILLE (WATE) - Two people died late Sunday in a house fire in the Concord community. One victim was found just 10 feet from the front door.

Dave Roberts told officers he called 911 when he saw the house on fire at 10820 Woody Drive. It's two streets away from his home. Roberts said he ran to the door, knocked and yelled several times for someone to come out. No one responded.

"It was pretty well inflamed. We could hear the glass breaking, see the flames. It's an elderly gentleman that lives there and his son. I hadn't seen much of them but I was wondering if they were home and trapped in the house," Roberts explained.

Firefighters arrived just after 10 p.m.

Rural/Metro Battalion Chief Rick Herrell said they found a "tremendous amount of fire" in the house. It took firefighters about 20 minutes to get the fire under control.

"The term fully engulfed, I know what it means now, as big a fire as you could see," said Shawn Murphy, who lives behind the house.

The names of the victims have not yet been released. Autopsies are scheduled for Monday.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Herrell said it appears the fire started in a bedroom area.

Neighbors say this isn't the first time a fire has broken out at this home.

"About two years ago, there was another time where there was a fire at the house, same room too, obviously not as big," said Will Jones, who lives across the street.

The home is considered a total loss.

Ashley Carter, 36, of Knoxville, was arrested for disorderly conduct when she refused to leave the scene of the fire.

According to the incident report, a large group gathered close to the emergency equipment was told to move to a location where they could gather.

Carter stopped walking, told the officer to "relax," then refused to leave and cursed the officers.

The sheriff's office says Carter was taken into custody for refusal to disperse from the scene of the fire when instructed to do so.