McKenzie, Tenn.–Two people were charged with criminal trespass after a fire destroyed a garage in McKenzie last week.
McKenzie Police charged Paul Moore, age 54, and Gina Alas, age 37, both of McKenzie, after the fire destroyed the garage at 164 Linden Ave.
McKenzie Fire & Rescue was called to the address at 5:30 a.m. October 19 and found the garage and four automobiles fully engulfed.
Officers determined that Moore and Alas were sleeping in the garage when the fire started. According to the police report, both escaped without injury after Moore carried Alas from the structure. Her power wheelchair was destroyed in the fire.
Moore told officers they received permission to sleep there, but the renter and owner of the property said they did not give permission.
Two adjacent structures were also damaged in the fire. Cause of the fire is still under investigation.
(McKenzie Fire & Rescue photo).