Preliminary findings suspect Monday’s fatal fire was accidental

A Campbell County man died in an early morning fire on Monday

HABERSHAM, TN (WLAF)- Long before daybreak Monday, firefighters were battling two separate fires across Campbell County; one in La Follette, the other at Habersham.

At 2:45am, the La Follette Fire Department was paged out to a fire at 109 North 9th Street. An abandoned house, with no occupants, was on fire. LFD Firefighters with the “C” Shift efficiently brought the fire under control as crews cleared the scene at 5:39am Monday.

No time later at 4:01am, the call of another fire came in to Central Dispatch. Firefighters with the Campbell County Rural Fire Service were called to a camper fire at 5060 South Highway 25W, near the Lick Creek Church. The White Oak Volunteer Fire Department was paged out to provide mutual aid.

A deputy with the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office was first on the scene. One report coming in to Central Dispatch was that there could be someone inside the camper. Once the fire was extinguished, the body of a deceased male was discovered.

Firefighters cleared the scene at 6:26am turning it over to the TBI Arson Division and Sheriff’s Office to investigate.

In a release from the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office, it is stated preliminary indications are the fire was accidental.

The joint investigation with the TBI and CCSO remains ongoing. The body was transported to the Knox County Regional Forensic Center for examination. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-02/17/2026-6AM)