News Releases

Squad 19, Squad 1, and Engine 22 Green Shift worked an extrication Sunday afternoon (2/11/24). Firefighters removed someone trapped in the wreckage so the patient could be transported to the hospital for treatment of their injuries. It happened on Highway 27 at Old Dayton Pike near the overpass. BC3 Bowman captured photos from the scene. It appeared that the vehicle went airborne, falling from 27 onto Old Dayton Pike. Firefighters had a challenging rescue operation on their hands because the twisting and turning of the vehicle during the accident left the Ford Focus a crushed and mangled mess. “Good teamwork and diligence by everyone involved,” BC3 Bowman said. HCEMS and law enforcement were also on the scene.

A group of Chattanooga firefighters had the chance to take part in some highly specialized rope training this week at the Academy at Vertical Consult in Ringgold, GA. With rope access work being performed as much as it is in our area, CFD sent eight members to a five-day SPRAT class. They went through the exact SPRAT Level 1 training that is given to rope access workers. It gives rope rescue technicians an idea and understanding the rope systems built how and why they are used and in case an emergency arises to a worker on ropes it helps in the rescue. The classes were 10 hours a day and the final day ended the class with a written test and a skills evaluation test that each member had to go through to demonstrate the techniques and skills they learned throughout the week. All members of the class passed both the written and evaluation.
SPRAT (Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians) was developed in the 90’s to address the needs of a growing number of companies and operators employing rope access techniques in North America. Rope Access Technicians perform work on a daily basis around the country including but not limited to jobs such as bridge inspections/maintenance, dam inspections/maintenance, high rise window cleaners, construction workers, painters, etc. Captain Adam Couch (Squad 7 Green), Captain Robert Thompson (Special Operations), Captain Richard Pershey (Engine 15 Green), Captain Chadd Nichols (Special Operations), Lt. Preston Binegar (Squad 1 Red), Lt. Joe Ervin (Squad 7 Green), Firefighter Colby Mai (Squad 7 Red), Firefighter Jeff Carlton (Squad 7 Blue) participated in the SPRAT class.

Blue Shift companies extinguished a fire in a trash compactor at the Amazon Fulfillment Center (7202 Discovery Drive) early Friday morning. Crews pulled a dumpster from the building to gain access to the contents (boxes). The call came in at 1:19 AM on 2/9/24. Ladder 7, Squad 7, Quint 6, Engine 15, Quint 8, Quint 21, and Battalion 2 responded. There were no injuries.

A Brainerd family and their pets are safe following a Monday afternoon fire, but their home was significantly damaged. At 2:55 PM on 2/5/24, Red Shift companies were called to a duplex in the 200 block of S Howell Avenue. Station 13 personnel spotted smoke on their way to the scene. On arrival, they found a working fire and launched an immediate attack, getting the flames under control in 20 minutes. All parties were out of the residence. Firefighters rescued three cats from the structure. There were no injuries. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Three adults and one child were displaced and will be receiving assistance from the American Red Cross.