Loss estimated at $400K in Parrottsville fire

An attempt to repair a vehicle's gas leak went seriously awry Monday afternoon in Parrottsville causing significant fire damage with numerous fire departments responding to bring the blaze under control.

According to a report from the Cocke County Sheriff's Office a deputy, who was among several first responders dispatched to the reported fire at 156 Parrots Circle on July 22, spoke to the owner of the garage, Randy Masingale upon arrival. Masingale stated he was working on a fuel leak on his 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche inside the garage at the time.

Masingale, per the report, said it caught fire and spread quickly to the rest of the structure. Fortunately, he was able to exit the structure and avoid injury. However, the fire reportedly resulted in a significant loss.

Masingale valued the structure and its contents at $400,000 and the vehicle at $6,000.

The blaze led to an all-county tone issued by the Parrottsville Volunteer Fire Department at 2:26 p.m. Numerous other departments responded including fire units from Cocke County, Greene County, Cosby, Centerview, Long Creek, Del Rio, Caney Branch and the Newport Rescue Squad.

The effort required 14 pieces of apparatus and 37 personnel from responding agencies according to the Parrottsville Volunteer Fire Department.