4AM Sunday Blaze at La Vergne Home

Dec 29, 2013 at 07:56 pm by bryan


A fire early Sunday morning in La Vergne, left a Stones River Road home heavily damaged. Officials say there doesn't appear to be anything suspicious about the 4:00AM blaze, but they are completing an investigation to make certain.

City of La Vergne spokesperson Kathy Tyson told WGNS News that the home was vacant, and authorities estimate that approximately half of the structure was destroyed. She noted that prior to the fire, that municipalities' codes department had ruled the home as uninhabitable. The structure is at 219 Stones River Road.

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This fire occurred just days before the January 1, 2014 takeover of the La Vergne Fire Department by the city. Prior to the $4-million purchase, La Vergne was one of only two municipalities in Tennessee that jobbed its fire protection to a private firm.

The purchase terminates a 10-year contract that was signed in September of 2010 between the city and the fire department. That contract increased the amount paid to the privately held company every year by approximately $400,000, ultimately leading to an unsustainable price the city would be responsible for paying.

The purchase price not only includes a 10-year contract signed in 2010, it also includes three fire halls and all of the equipment.

As you recall, starting with the New Year Rick McCormick will be the new fire chief. Prior to the promotion, he was assistant chief.

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