Historic Hendersonville Home Severely Damaged by Fire, Firefighters Battle Blaze for Hours
HENDERSONVILLE, TENNESSEE: (Smokey Barn News) – A residential fire broke out early this morning at 1033 Hogan’s Branch Road in Hendersonville, MAP drawing a significant response from multiple fire departments across the region. The first call came into 911 at 5:22 a.m. Saturday morning, and as of 12:55 p.m., firefighters remained on the scene battling the blaze.
The fire originated in the garage and quickly spread to the house, a historic structure built in 1912. Over the years, the house had undergone multiple additions, resulting in complex construction with double roofs, voids, and wood ceilings. These features made it extremely difficult for firefighters to control the fire, as it moved from the garage into the attic, where the multiple layers of roofing hindered efforts to apply water effectively. Firefighters utilized every drop of water from the home’s swimming pool to fight the fire while six or seven water tankers shuttled in water to the drop-tanks, (pictured below) which are like small portable swimming pools from which Firefighters extract water to battle the blaze.
Chief Joe Williams of the White House Community Volunteer Fire Department, the lead agency on the scene, explained that at the height of the response, 33 firefighters were working to contain the fire. Fire departments from Shackle Island, Cottontown, Cross Plains, Number 1, Hendersonville, Gallatin, and White House City also assisted.
The intense heat and the challenging conditions of the old structure added to the difficulty of the operation. Firefighters have been working for over seven hours, trying to preserve as much of the house as possible. Rehab 83 and Sumner EMS are on the scene, providing critical support, including hydration and cooling stations for the exhausted firefighters.
The cause of the fire remains unknown as crews continue to work on extinguishing the remaining flames. Fortunately, there were no injuries, thanks to a passerby who noticed the fire and alerted the residents, allowing them to evacuate safely.
Chief Williams emphasized the complexity of the situation due to the home’s age and the layers of construction that have accumulated over the years, which made the fire particularly challenging to control.
