Smoke detectors save four lives in Sunday morning house fire

Fire destroyed a double-wide home as occupants safely escape

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- A home was a total loss after fire swept through it just after 3:30am Sunday in the Doaks Creek community. “It was sad these folks lost their home, but it was a relief that they had working smoke detectors that saved their lives,” said Campbell County Rural Fire Service Chief Daniel Lawson.

One of the biggest challenges of the morning was the sub-freezing conditions. “We had to battle the cold, as well. It was 24-degrees, and that caused many icing conditions around the scene,” said Chief Lawson.

The report of a house fire came in to Central Dispatch on Sunday morning at 3:41, and upon arrival, crews found heavy fire coming from the residence. Eleven firefighters with the Campbell County Rural Fire Service were able to extinguish the fire and keep it from spreading to two other homes.

All four of the occupants of the double-wide home made it out safely, and there were no injuries, according to the Chief.

The crew of 11 firefighters, three fire engines, two tankers and two rescue units cleared the scene around 7am Sunday.

“If anyone who lives in Campbell County does not have a working smoke detector, they can contact us at 423.563.9983, and we will bring one or more to them and install them,” said Lawson. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-01/19/2026-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF CCRFS CHIEF DANIEL LAWSON)