Bible/Chucky Bridge Survives Fire

 

Sept. 24, Green County, TN - The Bible Covered Bridge, [WGN 42-30-01] the only remaining covered bridge in Greene County, is a well-known local landmark.

According to a report filed the next day by Sheriff's Deputy Wesley Holt, two men returning from a late-night fishing trip discovered the fire at about 4 a.m. on Aug. 9 as they were driving along the Warrensburg Road.

Holt's report states that Travis Seay of Hightop Road and Riley Cutshall of Midway Road told him they "saw sparks" coming from the wooden bridge at the intersection of Warrensburg Road and Denver Bible Lane, 12 miles south of Greeneville.

Seay reportedly drove to the Midway Market and called 9-1-1 to report the fire. The Orebank Volunteer Fire Department and sheriff's deputies responded.

After calling in the alarm, Seay and Cutshall reportedly returned to the bridge and fought the fire with blankets until firefighters arrived.

The fire reportedly had been set in four different spots on the bridge. In addition, investigators found at the fire scene two paint-thinner cans, a soft-drink bottle that smelled of kerosene and a shirt that "had been soaked in an accelerant."

A spokesman for the Orebank VFD estimated damage to the bridge at about $1,000 but said none of the wood had been burned through.

Holt's report stated that the floor of the bridge was damaged but did not offer a damage estimate.

A $1,500 reward was offered for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the bridge fire. The Glenwood Ruritan Club, the Greene County Heritage Trust and Ross Hogan Roofing each pledged $500.