Electric Heater Likely Source Of South Jefferson Avenue Fire

South Jefferson Avenue is back open after Cookeville Fire Department closed it to respond to a hotel fire.

Chief Benton Young said crews were on the scene for about an hour and a half. He said when they arrived, there was heavy smoke and fire venting from the window of a first-floor office.

“The structure wasn’t really involved it was basically just the content of the room,” Young said. “Apparently it started from an electric heater, some kind of material probably got in front of it or some kind of ignition, and that’s what started the fire.”

Young said there were no injuries. He said there was damage to that specific office, as well as smoke damage to that floor and the floor above it.

Young said the only fire hydrant available was one across the street from the scene, leading to the closure of South Jefferson.