One person was killed and six emergency responders were injured responding to a fire in Cookeville.

The fire was at a duplex on 530 Cypress Ave., the Cookeville fire chief told UpperCumberlandNow.com.

Fire Chief Roger Fuqua said Ricky Owens died in the fire. His wife, Martha Owens, was trapped inside a bedroom and was rescued by several firefighters and police officers.

“Four police officers were on an assignment around Tennessee Tech and they got there before we did,” Fuqua told UpperCumberlandNow.com. “Two of them made entry and one officer got out on his own. The other officer had to be helped out by fellow officers.”

According to Fuqua, most of the injuries to the officers and firefighters were from extreme smoke and heat.

Fuqua said four police officers and two firefighters were injured. He said one of the police officers was taken by helicopter to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. One of the firefighters was treated at the scene. The other officers and a firefighter were taken to Cookeville Regional Medical Center.

Mayor Ricky Shelton posted on his Facebook page that four police officers and one firefighter were injured when there was an explosion in the structure.

Martha Owens called 911 and told the dispatcher her husband was on fire. The explosion was likely caused by Ricky Owens’ oxygen tank.

Authorities believe Ricky Owens may have fallen asleep while smoking a cigarette, which caused a fire and the eventual explosion.

Martha Owens is recovering in the hospital.

Robert Harshaw, who lives in the duplex next door, said he managed to get out with minutes to spare.

“It was all by the grace of God I got out OK,” Harshaw said. “And as soon as I got out and got across the street with the neighbor, that’s when the explosion hit.”

The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.