Manchester Fire crews responded to a structure fire Monday night around 8:28. Crews arrived on the scene and found heavy black smoke coming from the main Rescue Squad building on the Murfreesboro Hwy.
Firemen entered the building with attack lines and found the Rescue Squad Rehab vehicle was on fire. Fire crews attacked the fire aggressively and were able to extinguish it quickly.
Firemen checked the rest of the facility and used fans to extract the dense smoke from the facility.
The building suffered fire, smoke, and water damage throughout. The fire destroyed toys and other donated items to the Gene Taylor/Steve Graves Christmas Foundation.
There were no injuries to fire personnel or other personnel on the scene.
The Coffee County Communications Center, Manchester Police Department, Duck River Electric, and Elk River Gas Company assisted at the fire scene, along with Rescue Squad and Coffee County Emergency Management agency members.
President of the Rescue Squad Neal Simmons told On Target News that at this time, the building, a lot of the equipment, and the toys were, in all likelihood total loss.
Hills Power Pro in Tullahoma is collecting toys and accepting monetary donations for the Coffee County Rescue Squad.
You can drop off your donations Monday-Friday from 8-5 at Hills Power Pro, 200 Flower Town Road in Tullahoma, across from Lowes.
A donation box is also set up in the lobby of the Manchester Arts Center.
Bowman On Target Marketing radio stations, Rooster 101.5, 93.9, The Duck and Whiskey Country 105.1, and 95.9, will conduct a fundraiser on Monday (Dec. 11) from 11 AM-1 PM at the rescue squad building 2270 Murfreesboro Hwy for anyone that would like to donate money or toys.
Donations of money are also being accepted online at https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02SHJTVWGKdCRNRWUyyKb3sShy441xAc6eXPUgs1jp2LDWAoexkiNp1vTdtdUnhqM7l&id=100063173140179&mibextid=Nif5oz
