On February 13, 2023, At approximately 08:59 am, The Sharps Chapel Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to 337 Lay Hollow Road on report of a House Fire. Mutual aid was received from Northeast Union, Luttrell, Maynardville, and Paulette Fire Departments. Sharps Chapel Engine 51 and Engine 52 responded. Prior to the arrival of both engines Sharps Chapel Firefighter Greg Craley arrived on scene and reported to Union County E911 Dispatch that the house was on the ground and to cancel all other mutual aid departments. Engine 51 arrived on scene at 09:21 am and Union County E911 Dispatch advised Engine 51 the homeowner was at the intersection of Lay hollow Rd at Grizzell Ridge Road. Engine 52 stopped at the intersection to locate the homeowner, and assed him for injuries to which none were reported. Engine 52 then transported the homeowner back to the residence. The homeowner stated “The house caught fire around 03:00am after hearing the fire alarm sounding and he was unable to grab his cellular phone to call 911. In an attempt to get out of the house the homeowner fell off the front porch. Furthermore, stating that he tried to find help by walking up the road trying to wave people down that where passing by, finally finding a citizen that provided him a cell phone to call 911 but it was unfortunately too late, the house was engulfed in flames.” The homeowner being disabled caused a huge delay in the response of fire departments, also due to high levels of fog in the area the morning of the fire it would have made it hard for anyone passing by the residence to see the flames. Units remained on scene for around forty minutes to investigate the cause of the fire. Scene command deemed the fire under control around 10:08 am and all Sharps Chapel Fire members returned to service.
