Man injured in Piney Flats house fire

From Staff Reports

   Washington and Carter County authorities responded to a structure fire call in Piney Flats Saturday afternoon. The fire resulted in one man being transported to the Johnson City Medical Center.
   Washington County sheriff's deputies responded to a 911 call regarding a fire at 971 Austin Springs Road at approximately 1:30 p.m., according to sheriff's deputies at the scene.
   Deputy Kevin Sanders of the Washington County Sheriff's Department said authorities had received a call that a male subject, whose name was not immediately available, was inside the residence at the time of the fire.
   "We entered the residence where he was and found him lying on the couch," said Sanders.
   The fire was extinguished by members of the West Carter County and Central Volunteer Fire Departments who responded to the scene along with the Piney Flats Volunteer Fire Department.
   Sgt. Jeff Clyburn of the Washington County Sheriff's Department said scanner bross-talk reports that the victim was armed and had barricaded himself inside the residence were unfounded. Clyburn said the victim was conscious when police removed him from the residence and no weapon was visible.
   The victim was transported to the Johnson City Medical Center by Washington County EMS. The victim does not face criminal charges in the incident, according to police.