On Tuesday November the 1st, Cannon Dispatch received a call about a truck on fire on Vance Road just off of McMinnville Hwy. The truck became fully involved within just a couple of minutes. Eastside Fire Department was dispatched and engine en route within minutes. Even thou the truck was in the middle of the roadway, the fire spread to a nearby hillside just as Deputies arrived on scene. The fire moved “explosively” up the hillside because of the very dry conditions. The location of this fire was in a remote area of Cannon County and not easily accessible. TN Depart of Forestry was called to assist fighting the out of control brush fire that was quickly spreading as the winds picked up. Four Forestry Fire Fighters arrived on scene along with a bulldozer and operator to help contain the quickly growing brush fire. The fire began to endanger several residences and structures on Vance Road and another on Adams Ridge Lane that was directly above the fire. Mooretown, Short Mountain and Woodbury Fire Departments were requested for mutual aid. Forestry cut “Fire Breaks” with the bulldozer and by hand to contain the large fire. Fire Fighters protected the endangered structures with numerous fire apparatus and the fire was fully contained by 5:27pm that evening. A total of 17.1 acres of land was consumed by fire. No doubt there would have been property lost if it wasn’t for all the Fire Departments involved and Tennessee Department of Forestry aggressive fight on this fire. With deep budget cuts currently looming, fires like this are why funding for these departments is so crucial and necessary to save lives and protect the property for the citizens of Cannon County.
