- A 40-foot sawdust silo caught fire at Hardwood Specialties on May 18, triggering a fire alarm at just before 6:00 am and summoning 18 firefighters who battled the blaze for two hours. Flames were shooting from the 20-foot diameter metal silo, reports the Knoxville Sentinel, which said local fire officials are investigating to determine why an automated sprinkler did not activate.

Hardwood Specialties, Inc. is part of a family business which consists of two sawmills, wood component plant, hardwood flooring plant, and a retail outlet. The businesses provide custom residential interiors and commercial wood product sales.