DUANE SHERRILLEditor

Fire swept through Southern Inn Hotel in Manchester this past week, leaving the office area of the business heavily damaged with a gaping hole in its roof.

Manchester Fire and Rescue reported seeing heavy smoke at the hotel which is located just off Exit 114 off Interstate 24 when they arrived July 3. They traced the source to the right side of the attic in the front of the hotel. Firemen used their deck gun to suppress the fire from the outside while hand lines were used by those storming the interior. Once the fire was somewhat suppressed, firemen laddered up to the roof and opened up the attic area. Tullahoma Fire responded to back up the Manchester firefighters as did crews from the Coffee County Rescue Squad and law enforcement agencies, some of which helped rehab firemen who also battled 90+ degree temperatures while wearing their heavy turnout gear. Hillsboro Fire sent a crew to Manchester’s main station to field any other calls that happened while the firemen spent hours on the scene.

“This incident was another great example of all the response agencies in our community coming together and working together as a team to protect our community and each other job well done by all,” the Manchester Fire Department said in commending those who helped.

The fire is suspected to have started on the corner of the building nearest Expressway Drive. The cause of the fire is not known at this time. The damage was done to the main office of the hotel. The rooms, which are in a separate block of buildings, did not sustain any significant damage.