Danny Cecil Parks Obituary – Danny Cecil Parks, a 68-year-old individual, tragically lost his life in a devastating fire that occurred in an apartment building in Rocky Top on January 23. In honor of his memory, a service will be held at Jones Mortuary in Clinton on January 28. Following the service, he will be laid to rest on Monday, January 29, at the Clinch River Baptist Church cemetery in the Medford community of Rocky Top. This information was shared through an obituary posted on the Jones Mortuary website.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has provided an update, stating that Parks has been identified as the victim of the fire that took place in the early morning hours. TBI special agent fire investigators are collaborating with the Rocky Top Police and Fire departments to determine the cause of this tragic incident, which occurred in an old brick store building on South Main Street in the heart of the city, previously known as Lake City and Coal Creek.
According to Rocky Top Police Chief John Thomas, the building’s second floor housed five apartments, accommodating approximately eight to ten individuals. Upon receiving the emergency call at 3:56 a.m. on Tuesday, the city fire department promptly responded, initiating firefighting efforts and evacuating the residents. Fire departments from Anderson and Campbell counties also joined forces to combat the blaze. The American Red Cross arrived later that morning to provide assistance to those who were displaced by the fire. Additionally, members of the community have taken to social media platforms and established GoFundMe accounts to support the affected individuals in rebuilding their lives.
The first floor of the building was rented by local residents Gregg and Melissa Wilson and their family, who utilized the space for their eBay store’s storage and shipping operations, as confirmed by Melissa. Despite the loss they have suffered, Melissa expressed resilience and faith, emphasizing that the true victims are the individuals residing in the apartments. Danny Cecil Parks, a graduate of Lake City High School, was originally from Washington, North Carolina, and was born into a military family, according to his obituary. He was the eldest child and only son of Carter and Bobbie Parks. Sadly, his father had passed away earlier, and he is survived by his mother, four younger sisters, and a son.