Fire Destroys Historic Administration Building at HBCU Knoxville College

The historic Elnathan Hall administration building at Knoxville College, a historically Black college founded in 1875, was destroyed in a fire Monday night. The blaze erupted at around 8:30 p.m. ET on the campus in Knoxville, Tennessee, where many buildings had been boarded up to prevent break-ins and fires, according to Knoxville Assistant Fire Chief Mark Wilbanks.

The over 100 years old building, has completely collapsed and was deemed a total loss. No injuries were reported. The Knoxville Fire Department described the scene as a large, defensive operation with heavy fire upon arrival and master streams deployed to battle the flames.

The cause of the fire remained unknown as of Monday night. Fire investigators are working to determine what may have triggered the incident.

Knoxville College, a small HBCU, has faced significant challenges over the years, including the loss of its national accreditation in 1997 as enrollment dwindled. Although the state allowed the college to resume courses in 2018, they have been conducted online as it continues efforts to regain accreditation.