Knoxville College Fire: A historic building at Knoxville College, a struggling historically Black college (HBCU) in Tennessee, was destroyed in a massive fire that broke out on the campus Monday night. The L. Nathan building, over 100 years old and unoccupied for decades, was engulfed by flames around 8:30 p.m. local time, sending shockwaves through the community. Firefighters battled the blaze, but due to safety concerns, the building was ultimately torn down for safety reasons.

Knoxville Assistant Fire Chief Mark Wilbanks confirmed that the structure, which had been boarded up to prevent break-ins, collapsed completely and is considered a total loss. Fortunately, no one was inside the building at the time of the fire, and there have been no reported injuries.

“It’s a sad day for our city,” Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon said at the scene, acknowledging the deep loss for both the city and the college, which has faced ongoing challenges. Founded in 1875, Knoxville College lost its national accreditation in 1997 amid financial struggles and declining enrollment. While the college began offering online courses in 2018 in an effort to regain accreditation, its buildings have remained largely vacant, with frequent incidents of break-ins and fires.

Frank Shanklin Jr., a board member of Knoxville College, expressed determination to continue fighting for the institution’s future, despite the setback. “We’re going to keep fighting for Knoxville College,” Shanklin stated, urging the community to keep the college in their thoughts and prayers.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with authorities asking anyone with information to come forward. Fire crews remain on the scene, monitoring hot spots and working to determine the origin of the blaze. As Knoxville College struggles to rebuild both physically and academically, the loss of the L. Nathan building is a stark reminder of the challenges facing many HBCUs across the country.