With the assistance of the Cookeville Police Department, all occupants were evacuated from the building.

The fire was brought under control within 2 hours. The cause of this fire was determined to be from a lightning strike. Fire Chief Benton Young gives credit to the building construction for the limited amount of damage to the other apartment units. There are double-thickness fire walls installed in the attics which prevented the fire from spreading through the attic.

No injuries have been reported.