Fire damages downtown Dunlap business

Photo contributed by Dunlap Fire Department
Dunlap firefighters battle a blaze Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019, on Rankin Avenue.
Photo contributed by Dunlap Fire Department Dunlap firefighters battle a blaze Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019, on Rankin Avenue.
photo Photo contributed by Dunlap Fire Department Dunlap firefighters battle a blaze Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019, on Rankin Avenue.

A fire damaged a business in downtown Dunlap, Tennessee, early Sunday.

An automobile repair service housed in the former Smith's Home Center and Building Supply in the 16000 block of Rankin Avenue was heavily damaged by fire, according to a statement posted on the Dunlap Fire Department Facebook page.

The fire was reported around 1:45 a.m. CDT Sunday.

Dunlap police were first to arrive on the scene, finding it "fully involved with the roof already collapsed and several vehicles on fire," fire officials said in the post.

The fire chief and firefighters worked to protect neighboring structures housing Heartland Realty, and two city engines, a ladder truck and two other support vehicles responded with 15 firefighters. The Pikeville Fire Department, in neighboring Bledsoe County, assisted, officials said.

U.S. Highway 127 was closed until the fire was extinguished around 5 a.m. Sunday.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by Dunlap authorities and the Tennessee Fire Marshal's office.

No injuries were reported.

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