An early morning fire Tuesday destroyed ten boats and damaged six others at Hidden Harbor Marina at Holmes Creek on Center Hill Lake.
DeKalb County Fire Chief Donny Green says firefighters received the call around 1:30 a.m. “We were called to Hidden Harbor Marina to a reported house boat fire. The sheriff’s deputies arrived moments after the call and they reported back that we had four or five houseboats on fire. When we arrived we found that we had about five or six houseboats on fire that had been cut loose from the marina. We also had more boats attached to the pier that were still on fire. There were a total of ten houseboats or pontoon boats that were actually burning and were destroyed and six more boats were damaged. There was no one on the boats at the time so no one was injured. Thankfully, none of our fire fighters were injured either because it’s a very risky situation when you’re fighting a fire on the water.”
Green says TWRA officers were of great assistance to the volunteer firefighters. “I can’t say enough about the help we got from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Officers Ben Franklin, Tony Cross, and Tommy Alexander did an excellent job. They got their quickly and they helped us. We couldn’t have been successful in getting the fire controlled without their help. They did a remarkable job along with my volunteer firefighters who were there. With the help of the TWRA, We were able to pull the burning boats away from the pier and to isolate and secure them so they would not drift back into the dock. From the time we arrived until the time we controlled the fire, we did not lose any more boats other than those already on fire when we got there and we were able to isolate the fire with very minimal structural damage to the marina.”
Green says the origin and cause of the fire is undetermined. ” We don’t know how it started because at the time the fire was discovered, the gentleman at the marina who saw the fire, said there were multiple boats already involved, so at this point we don’t even know which boat the fire started on. That is something the investigators will have to determine when they come in and start looking at this.”
Members of the Cookeville Highway Station, Short Mountain Highway Station, and Midway Station of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department responded. Firefighters also used a boat equipped with an on board pump along with portable pumps to help fight the fire.
TWRA had three officers and three boats on the scene and two officers of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department rendered assistance.
DeKalb EMS also stood by as a precaution to provide medical support.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol investigated two separate traffic accidents Monday night on Highway 83 (Allen Ferry Road)
In the first accident, Trooper Johnny Farley of the Tennessee Highway Patrol says 25 year old Michael P. Clayborn was driving east in a 1997 Cadillac Deville when he crossed the centerline of the road and struck a westbound 2005 Ford Tauras, driven by 59 year old Mary K. Chapman.
Chapman was transported to DeKalb Hospital by DeKalb EMS while Clayborn was taken to the hospital by a private vehicle.
Trooper Farley says Clayborn was cited for a seat belt violation, driving on an expired license, violation of the financial responsibility law, and violation of the drive right lane except to pass law.
In the second accident, Trooper Farley says 51 year old Randy Campbell was traveling east on Highway 83 in his tow truck, enroute to the scene of the first wreck, when a 1999 Chevy Suburban, driven by 36 year old Robert R. Atnip Jr. pulled out in front of him from Holmes Creek Road.
According to Trooper Farley, Atnip failed to stop at the stop sign posted at the intersection of Holmes Creek Road and Highway 83 and pulled in front of the tow truck, causing Campbell’s truck to crash into the driver side door of Atnip’s Suburban.
Trooper Farley says the Suburban, upon impact, overturned and went off the westbound shoulder of the road, coming to rest against some trees.
The tow truck spun around, took out a fence, and came to rest off the west bound shoulder of the road.
Campbell, who was ejected, suffered only minor injuries and refused medical treatment at the scene.
Atnip was extricated from his vehicle by the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department and airlifted from near the scene by a Life Flight helicopter ambulance and flown to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to be treated for non-life threatening injuries.
In addition to Trooper Farley, DeKalb EMS, and the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department, others rendering assistance were members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department’s Cookeville Station, and officers of the Smithville Police and DeKalb County Sheriff’s Departments.

The home of a Smithville woman was destroyed by fire Saturday night on South College Street.
Smithville Fire Chief Charlie Parker says Royce Odom was at home around 8:00 p.m. and discovered the fire in the attic.
The Smithville Volunteer Fire Department rushed to the scene but the blaze was already well underway by the time it was discovered and the home could not be saved. Ms. Odom was not injured.
Members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department provided mutual aid support with manpower at the scene.
Neighbors also pitched in and helped to salvage some of Ms. Odom’s furniture and other personal belongings.
Chief Parker says the fire may have started from electrical wiring in the attic but the exact cause has not officially been determined.

Smithville police have charged a 27-year old man with nine counts of burglary, six counts of theft, evading arrest, and escape after a chase on foot Thursday led to the subject?s arrest.
Police chief, Gus Clemente, says Chistopher D. Bilbrey, believed to be homeless, but originally from Davidson County, was arrested Thursday, after being found with some stolen property, and is believed to be responsible for several vehicle and building break-ins.
Smithville Police received a call around 8:14 a.m. Thursday morning, about a suspicious male allegedly going through cars at 114 South Bright Hill Road.
Officer Lonnie DeFore responded to the scene, and was met by the victim, James Young, who said he had seen the subject take items from his vehicle and go behind a column across the street. Bilbrey was at the scene upon DeFore?s arrival, and the officer escorted Bilbrey to the column, where the items that were reported stolen were found.
Upon making the discovery, DeFore attempted to place Bilbrey under arrest, but the suspect fled the scene. A pursuit on foot ensued, as Bilbrey fled onto Congress Boulevard toward the Family Medical Center, were he was apprehended.
Around the same time, Smithville Police Lieutenant Richard Jennings was working two burglary reports, one at Model City Auto Sales and one at Tennessee Credit. It was learned Bilbrey was the one allegedly responsible for those break-ins, as well.
Bilbrey is believed to have taken a Shop Vac, a gas grill, a weed eater and a battery at Model City Auto Sales, in addition to breaking into three vehicles. He is also charged with breaking into two vehicles owned by Tennessee Credit.
Bilbrey was able to start one of the vehicles he broke into and was planning
to leave the scene with the items in his possession. However, a flat tire on the truck thwarted Bilbrey?s plan, and he had to resume his getaway on foot.
After he was arrested and taken in for processing, Bilbrey was handcuffed to an eye-bolt on a bench at the Smithville Police Department while authorities continued their investigation and completed the paperwork.
Around 1:30 p.m., while police continued their work, Bilbrey managed to take the eye-bolt out of the bench and escaped from custody out a side door. He again fled onto Congress Boulevard, and was apprehended a short time later, near where he was first confronted by Officer DeFore.
?It was a joint effort and very impressive team work?, Smithville Police Chief Gus Clemente said of Bilbrey?s apprehension on both occasions.