Alcoa Police are investigating a fire that left one person dead and a firefighter injured early on the morning of Jan. 10. The American Red Cross came to the aid of affected tenants.

Although firefighters contained the fire to the front living room, smoke filled the other rooms.Alcoa Fire Department firefighters had the fire extinguished within five minutes, during a search of the interior firefighters found a victim unconscious. 

Alcoa Fire Department firefighter Dan Harris apparently broke an ankle when he fell while pulling a hose from a fire apparatus.

Tenants were evacuated from the entire section of the apartment complex, but those from six apartments were relocated with assistance from volunteers from the American Red Cross.

The Red Cross provided shelter for three of the affected families last nights and other emergency needs, according to Regional Director of Communications Stan Gibert

The Red Cross is currently seeking additional volunteers in Blount County. For information, call (865) 983-0821.

Authorities had not released the victim’s name at press time.