Emergency crews responded to a fire Monday morning in rural Knoxville. Firefighters battled the blaze at a home at 1519 165th Avenue, which started during the 5:00 hour. All who were inside at the time were able to escape. One of the occupants of the home was transported to the Knoxville Hospital and Clinics as a precaution for possible smoke inhalation, and a firefighter was transported with an ankle injury. Fire Chief Kenny Thompson told KNIA/KRLS News that the building was a total loss.

“The biggest trouble that we had out there this morning was water, so we had to bring in a lot of tankers and stuff and that got kind of behind the eight ball when we first got started, but once we finally got everything rolling, we did pretty good. But it was a total loss. It started clear on the south end of the building and it was a metal building, so all the heat stayed inside the building.”

Thompson also acknowledged the efforts of those who assisted with the fire.

“I’d like to thank everybody that assisted this morning, I think it was the city, Colombia, and Indiana Township, and Pella, and I probably left out one or two, but I want to thank everybody that came and helped us this morning.”

Among the responding agencies were Knoxville Township Rural Fire, Knoxville Fire and Rescue, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Indiana Township Fire, Columbia Fire, and Pella Rural Fire, Marion County Emergency Management, and the American Red Cross, and possibly others.