Firefighters Still Investigating Deadly Blaze

BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — Bradley County firefighters are investigating a blaze that killed a woman inside of the home.

Firefighters were called to a house in the 3300 block of Bates Pike around 10 p.m., Saturday.

They arrived in minutes, but the home was already fully engulfed in flames.

Once they got it contained, firemen went in and found a woman dead.

Investigators don’t believe anyone else was inside.

They still don’t know what caused the blaze.

“We did call the Tennessee Bomb and Arson, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to aid in that investigation. Preliminary, we don’t know, but we don’t have any information to believe that this is suspicious,” said James Bradford, Bradley County Sheriff’s Office.

“It was really sad. It was,” said Tina Blankinship, the victim’s neighbor. “My heart hurt, like, I mean, it really did. I just felt so bad, and then it made my boys, like, they found out and they had to learn from that experience of how a fire, how deadly it can be.”

Bradford says the victim’s body has been taken to a forensic center in Knoxville to determine the cause of death, and to positively identify her.

The investigation is ongoing.