Knoxville, TN - At 12:07 P.M. on December 26th, units from the Knoxville Fire Department were dispatched to 2329 Woodbine Avenue for the report of a possible house fire, called in by an alert neighbor.

When firefighters arrived they found heavy smoke coming from the rear portion of the home, where electrical utilities feed into the structure. No tenants were home at the time firefighters arrived, so forcible tactics were used to gain entry. Once inside, through a scuttle hole in the ceiling, firefighters were able to locate flames that had climbed the exterior wall into the attic.

A Fire Investigator pointed out a break in the neutral aluminum wire near the weatherhead above the electrical meter, which he believes a squirrel may have chewed through, causing the fire. No injuries were reported.

Safety tip: from the ground, look overhead at the electrical line from the utility pole to the weather head of your home. If you happen to notice a break in any wiring between the two, immediately kill the power to your home and notify your utility provider.