SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – A jail workhouse and animal shelter have been evacuated in Shelbyville where emergency workers responded to a fire at a nearby Southern Energy Co. facility.
Police Chief Austin Swing says law enforcement evacuated a half-mile radius around the burning building this morning. He said there were reports that some oil tanks at the facility exploded around 10:30 a.m.
An ambulance was called for one person, but Swing did not know the person’s condition.
Tennessee Emergency Management Agency spokesman Jeremy Heidt said most of the trusties at the workhouse were out on work detail when the fire occurred. Animal control workers from neighboring Rutherford County were called in to help evacuate the Bedford County animal shelter. Heidt said both facilities were impacted by smoke, not fire.