KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – The Knoxville Fire Department responded to a fire on the Knoxville College campus Monday evening.

When emergency services arrived at the scene around 8:30 p.m., there was a heavy fire, according to KFD. The flames could be seen several miles away, including from I-40.

Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon told WVLT News that a fire broke out at Elnathan Hall. Frank Shanklin, an alumni and member of the board of trustees, said it was a building that had not been occupied in at least 40 to 50 years.

“It’s a sad day for the Knoxville community,” Kincannon said. “Knoxville College was founded not long after the Civil War to educate formerly enslaved people, and it has served that mission well for over 100 years. In recent years it has been more difficult. It will be sad to lose this building and we will continue to work with the private board that owns this property and manages the school.

“This is not city property. We have had to be on site fighting fires many times over the last few years and that can be very dangerous,” Kincannon continued.

Knoxville College is an HBCU, better known as a historically black college or university. The troubled campus lost its accreditation in 1997 due to declining enrollment, but has been working to regain that accreditation in recent years.

The last update from the college administration came in June, when then-President Leonard L. Adams Jr. announced he was resigning from his position.

Previous coverage: Knoxville College president resigns

Kincannon also said the fire was contained to that building and that the cause is currently unknown.

Shanklin said the building was empty and mostly boarded up. He also said that while they typically receive a call about a fire on campus at least once a month, they have never received a call about a fire in this particular building.

Shanklin added that the college is currently undergoing re-accreditation and hopes to have students back on campus at some point.

No injuries were reported, according to KFD’s Mark Wilbanks. The cause of the fire was not disclosed.

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