A large fire is burning at Knoxville College, the historic Black institution west of downtown.
The campus has not been used by students or faculty for years.
Flames could be seen from as far away as downtown. The Knoxville Fire Department is taking defensive steps to contain it, the department said in a release the night of Nov. 4.
The private historically Black college, founded in 1875 by the Presbyterian Church, has faced significant challenges in recent years, with the goal of being reaccredited a critical factor in the college’s future.
Classes have not been held on campus since 2017 due to safety concerns of the buildings. Several buildings on campus, located west of downtown Knoxville, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, although they are currently not in use.
The college lost its accreditation in 1997.
This breaking news story will be updated.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Huge fire erupts at vacant Knoxville College campus