MANCHESTER, Tenn. (WTVF) — More than 70 people have been displaced following a catastrophic fire at Carden Estates Apartments in Manchester.
Fire officials say they responded to the fire early Friday and that there is a total loss of 36 housing units.
Displaced families are being transferred and officials are working to deliver resources to them as well.
Joey Hobbs, the Mayor of Manchester thanked the Manchester Fire Department for their heroic efforts and their assistance with the families affected.
Investigators say there is no evidence of foul play or arson at this time. The fire appears to have started near a vacant unit on the third floor.
Searching for new housing
Koby Michael only learned he needed to evacuate the building when one of his roommates shook him awake.
"'The building’s on fire,' and I was like half awake. I was like what?" said Michael. "I was super anxious, my anxiety was going all through the roof. The adrenaline was obviously there."
Outside, he watched in horror as the fire only grew in size.
"Watching, basically my home go up in flames, it’s kind of tough to watch, I’m not going to lie," he said. "It just kept going up and then the next thing you know, it just kept getting larger and larger and larger."
Koby worries, if he can't find a new apartment complex here in Manchester, he may have to move elsewhere.
"I have looked in Tullahoma, I have friends that live in apartments in Tullahoma. I have also looked into moving to Huntsville," said Michael.
How you can help
The First Baptist Church in Manchester has set up a relief fund for those in need. You can tap this link to donate and select on the website fire relief fund.
You can also send gift cards to both FBC and Canvas Community Church. Donations for non-perishable food items can go to the Community Table and Canvas Community Church.
The Manchester-Coffee County Conference Center has been opened as a makeshift shelter, with food and toiletries, for those who don't have friends and family to stay with.
"The outpouring of support from people is really overwhelming," said newly-elected Manchester Mayor Joey Hobbs. "Now we’re working through different apartments, different hotel rooms to get the temporary needs solved. As we do that, we’ll continue on into the long-term needs."
Do you have more information about this story? You can email me at kelly.broderick@newschannel5.com.
Fostering Hope provides Christmas for kids in foster care. I'm delighted to see Fostering Hope expand this year to expand their reach to now include kids in Foster care in metro AND foster kids in East TN hard hit by Helene.
-Bree Smith
