Historic building burned down at one of Tennessee's oldest HBCUs: What caused Knoxville College fire? What we know – Knoxville News Sentinel

Elnathan Hall at Knoxville College, the only historically Black college in East Tennessee and one of the oldest historically Black colleges in the state, was destroyed in a fire on Nov. 4.
The unused building was ruled a total loss.
Knoxville College is a small unaccredited HBCU campus in the Mechanicsville neighborhood, near downtown Knoxville. After struggling for decades with debt, loss of accreditation, low enrollment and aging buildings, the college now only offers online classes. The campus is vacant, though several of its buildings, including Elnathan Hall, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
This fire is the latest trial for Knoxville College, which has faced significant challenges in recent years and is searching for a new president and trying to regain accreditation.
Here’s what to know about the fire that burned down Elnathan Hall.
The massive fire was reported to 911 around 8:30 p.m. Nov. 4, according to a Knoxville Fire Department news release. The flames could be seen as far away as downtown.
Roughly 40 KFD firefighters were on the scene from 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. that night. Four firefighters with two trucks were there early Nov. 5, pouring water on hotspots in the rubble.
As of Nov. 7, investigators think the fire was set.
A “set fire” means that the purpose of the fire could have been for cooking or warming, or even arson. The intention behind the fire at Elnathan Hall is unknown, Knoxville Fire Department Assistant Chief Mark Wilbanks told Knox News.
“Nothing new as far as any suspects or anything like that. We do believe it was a set fire. We don’t have any leads at this time, but the investigators were told a few people’s names. They are still looking into that,” Wilbanks said Nov. 7.
Knoxville College has a complicated past. The school lost its Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accreditation in 1997 due to a combination of financial difficulties, declining enrollment and administrative challenges.
In 2015, the college suspended classes when it lost state accreditation as well. Knoxville College began to offer online classes in 2018.
Knoxville College was founded in 1875 as part of the missionary effort of the United Presbyterian Church of North America.
It is one of seven historically Black colleges and universities in Tennessee, and the only historically Black college in East Tennessee.
Fisk University, located in Nashville, is the oldest HBCU in Tennessee. The college was established shortly after the Civil War in 1866, according to the school’s website.
Today, Fisk continues to operate with more than 1,000 students enrolled.