Cookeville, TN – Shortly after 11:00 pm on April 5, a residential fire was reported in a northwestern Cookeville neighborhood. It was also reported that a woman was trapped inside the residence.
Officers arrived in less than three minutes, and immediately Officer Kyle Farley and Lt. Mitch Harington entered the burning structure. The officers became disoriented in the thick black smoke and found themselves in danger.
As Officer David Harris and Sgt. Cary Matheney were forcing open the door which had closed behind Farley and Harrington, an explosion caused debris to fall upon them. Simultaneously Officer Shane Livingston was forcing open the rear door, which allowed Officer Farley to escape.
In the meantime, Cookeville Fire Department personnel arrived. Lt. Harrington was located and pulled from the residence by Officers Livingston, Matthew Franey, Ryan Acuff, and Colby Fox.
The female resident was located and removed from the residence by firemen Lt. Paul Parrish, Lt. Mike Lynch, Firefighter Matt Prouse and Firefighter Gauge Bumbalough.
Once the fire was extinguished the body of a male occupant was discovered. Investigator Mead
McWhorter, of the Tennessee Bomb and Arson Agency, joined the investigation which is still on-going. At this point in time, criminal activity does not appear to be a factor in this fire. The identity of the male is being determined.
The female resident and Lt. Harrington were transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for treatment of their injuries. The other officers and one firefighter were treated and released at the Cookeville Regional Medical Center for smoke inhalation.
All agencies involved in this incident worked together seamlessly and selflessly in their efforts to remove the residents from danger to a place of safety and to care for each other. We are saddened that one person died as a result of this fire but are grateful for the bravery of our officers and firefighters which saved a second person’s life.