JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — City officials confirmed there were no injuries in Thursday morning’s fire at Widener’s Reloading/Shooting Supply on West Market Street.
The Johnson City Fire Department dispatched six engine companies, three truck companies, and two district chiefs — 26 personnel in total — to the scene.
The city said fire and police officials will remain on scene through the evening.
An investigation including the police department, fire department, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and a private insurance company investigator will begin Friday morning to determine the cause of the fire.
Westbound traffic on West Market Street will remain restricted through Friday and drivers are encouraged to avoid the area.
12 P.M. UPDATE:
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is assisting in an investigation into the ammunition warehouse fire that started Thursday morning in Johnson City.
According to the TBI, the local authorities requested the bureau’s assistance in investigating the fire.
No further details were released by the TBI.
The road near an early morning fire in Johnson City is back open.
News Channel 11’s Kristen Gallant reports that W. Market Street has reopened.
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) – A fire at a Johnson City ammunition building on Thursday morning has diverted traffic in the area.
According to a release from the Johnson City Police Department, officers were called to the area of 3602 West Market Street at 2:30 a.m. to assist the Johnson City Fire Department with traffic control near a structure fire.
JCPD said in the release that due to the circumstances surrounding the location of the fire, traffic could possibly be detoured off of West Market Street into the morning commute hours of Thursday morning.
Dispatchers at the Washington County Emergency Communications Office told News Channel 11 that the fire is located at the PH Brass & Bullets building.
Members of the fire department have confirmed with News Channel 11 that residents in the area have heard pops and other noises coming from the warehouse are the sounds of ammunition exploding.
Crews on scene said as of 5 a.m. they did not believe anyone had been in the building at the time of the fire.
According to JCPD, traffic is being detoured onto McKinley Road and Claude Simmons Road, and traffic on Indian Ridge Road is not being permitted to access West Market Street.
JCPD asks drivers in the area to be mindful of emergency personnel.
As of 8:10 a.m., crews were still on the scene of the fire and traffic is still effected.
News Channel 11 has a crew on the scene collecting information. Stay with News Channel 11 as we bring you updates to this story.
