RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN (WGNS News) – As dusk settled over Rutherford County Friday (1/9/2026) evening, 911 dispatchers suddenly found themselves fielding a wave of calls from drivers on I‑840. Motorists near the Sulphur Springs Road exit were reporting what looked like a massive fire lighting up the sky, and many feared a structure or brush fire was spreading fast.
NewsRadio WGNS reached out to Rutherford County Fire‑Rescue Chief Larry Farley to get clarity on the situation, and the explanation turned out to be far less alarming than the dramatic flames suggested. Firefighters with Engine 52 had also spotted the towering glow and checked into it immediately.
Officials soon learned that the source of the blaze was a commercial burn taking place on Joe Brown Road. According to the Fire Marshal’s Office, the group responsible did have a valid burn permit, meaning the fire was legal, monitored, and expected…