Smoke at Sevierville Middle School

Sevierville Police Corporal Bob Campbell, the School Resource Officer (SRO) at the Sevierville Middle School, reported smoke in the Middle School on Monday, September 15 at approximately 9:25 a.m. Cpl. Campbell, with assistance from SRO David Finchum and SRO Ken Garner, immediately started evacuation of students and staff, while the Sevierville Fire Department was responding to the school. The smoke occurred mainly in the front lobby area and adjacent cafeteria. Firefighters suspected that the smoke was coming from HVAC ducts and began searching for the source. According to Sevierville Fire Chief Mike Rawlings, it was determined that the smoke originated in a rooftop HVAC unit that malfunctioned, causing smoke to be sent into the ducts. Students and staff were allowed back into the building at about 9:50 a.m. No injuries were reported from the smoke or evacuation.