Man killed in McMinn barn fire identified

ATHENS, Tenn. —  Authorities on Friday released the name of a man whose body was found in the burned remains of a hay barn on Thursday afternoon.

McMinn Sheriff Steve Frisbie said Ashley Martin, 31, apparently was living in the upper floor of the barn on County Road 658. He said the barn was owned by Mr. Martin’s family.

There was hay stored on the main floor of the barn, and the living quarters were being heated with propane and kerosene heaters.

The sheriff said firefighters first were called to the site in rural McMinn County about 5 a.m. Thursday and put out a fire.

“There were no cars there, and fire units did not know anyone was living in the barn,” Sheriff Frisbie said.

Apparently some sparks stayed alive in the barn full of hay, because the fire rekindled and firefighters returned about 1 p.m.

“Our firefighters didn't have a clue there might be someone in the barn," McMinn County Fire and Rescue Chief Harold Eaton said.

But he said family members were concerned Mr. Martin might have been in the barn when the fire began, so firefighters extinguished the rekindled flames and searched the rubble.

“They found the body about one and one-half hours later,” Chief Eaton said.

The sheriff said the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Bomb and Arson Squad are assisting with the investigation, but investigators don’t believe the fire was suspicious.

The TBI could not be reached Friday for comment.

Sheriff Frisbie said damage is estimated at about $48,000.