NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) -
The Metro SWAT team was called to a home near the Cheatham-Davidson county line early Sunday after firefighters raised concerns about a pair of fires.
According to District Fire Chief George Hickey, crews initially responded to a report of a barn fire at a home on Old Charlotte Pike near Buffalo Road.
"When the first arriving unit got here, there was a car on fire that was blocking the driveway," Hickey said.
Firefighters put the car fire out and moved the vehicle out of the way to get to the burning barn. That's when residents told crews that one of their relatives was missing.
"One of the relatives said that the elderly gentleman here, that had dementia, might be in the barn," Hickey said.
Firefighters doused the barn fire, but did not find the missing man inside.
"Throughout the investigation, we went into the other house. He had poured gasoline throughout the entire house, with a trail of matches," Hickey said. "And also there were pills and all sorts of personal effects out in the driveway."
As a precaution, crews called the Metro SWAT team as they continued their search.
"We deal well with fires, and we deal well with medical emergencies, but when the SWAT team shows up with automatic weapons we start getting a little nervous," Hickey said.
Eventually, the group found the man in a wooded area nearby. He was transported to an area hospital.
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