The dorm at the Sunset Gap Community Center in Cosby burned Sunday night.
This picture shows the dorm prior to Sunday night's fire.
The blaze leveled the historic dorm which was built in 1928.
A fire may make it difficult for the a Cocke County community center to remain open.
The fire happened Sunday night at a dormitory across the street from the Sunset Gap Community Center in Cosby. According to the Executive Director, the fire was reported around 8:45 pm and spread quickly through the two-story, wooden structure.
"Smoke and flames immediately shot out the front door prohibiting us from entering," Dunn said.
Josh Dunn says the dormitory was built in 1928. It currently housed visiting church groups who come to the area to do outreach projects. The fees to rent the building help fund the community center, dorm and outreach ministry. Without the dorm, the center might have to close next summer.
"It has housed thousands and thousands of people who have came to help us. Without this building, Sunset Gap is not going to be able to continue with its largest outreach ministry," the community's executive director said.
No one was in the building during the fire. Dunn says a church group from Pennsylvania was due to arrive around 9:00 pm Sunday, but they were delayed, and didn't arrive until 11:00 pm. The group is staying at the community center.
Dunn says they hope the community will help them rebuild. If you'd like to make a donation, call 423-623-4313.
The fire is believed to be an accident, though the exact cause is not yet known. Dunn believes either a lighting strike or an electrical issue may have sparked the blaze. The Cocke County Sheriff's Office is investigating.