Caryville Firefighter hospitalized after battling Wednesday fire

CARYVILLE, TN (WLAF)- A Caryville Firefighter continues recovering this morning from injuries sustained in a Wednesday afternoon structure fire.

Thirteen firefighters battled a mobile home fire under dangerously hot conditions on Wednesday with one of the Caryville Volunteer Firefighters being overcome by the heat.

That firefighter was on the scene for the entire time, the better part of three hours, and was assessed upon return to the fire house. After the assessment, the firefighter was transported to the La Follette Medical Center. Later Wednesday night, the firefighter was transferred to a Knoxville hospital for further treatment. “Let’s all send up prayers for our first responders,” said Caryville Fire Chief Eddie Hatmaker.

Multiple fire services and firefighters dealt with hot sunshine, near 90-degree temps and high humidity as they battled a single-wide mobile home fire on Wednesday. “It’s a challenge to stay hydrated, but we routinely drink a lot of liquids,” said Hatmaker.

Initially, the Caryville Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched at 1:20pm. That call was soon followed by a request for mutual aid from firefighters with La Follette Fire Department to 154 Pat Massengill Lane just off Stone Mill Road. It was learned before fire units arrived that everyone made it out safely.

The structure was fully involved upon arrival by CVFD and other agencies, Jacksboro Fire and the Campbell Fire Service, also sent units and firefighters.

Reports of explosions from the fire came in to Central Dispatch. “That came from a lot of exposures and lots of junk vehicles,” said CVFD Chief Eddie Hatmaker.

Thirteen firefighters in all were there in the heat and in hundred pound or more turnout gear.

Firefighters cleared the scene just before 4pm. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-06/11/2026-6AM)