News Releases

In true CFD fashion, our firefighters stepped up to save a woman’s life on the Tennessee Riverwalk. Firefighter Kace Allen (Engine 4 Red Shift) is a rowing coach and was off duty when he saw a stranger in need on February 26th. FF Allen and fellow coach Missy Elliott were taking a group from the rowing center for a run on the Riverwalk when they came upon a woman experiencing a cardiac emergency. Missy called 911, Kace started CPR, and another runner, Ali Dragoo, stopped and helped with CPR. Engine 10 Blue Shift personnel (Captain Robert Roark, Lt. Tiffany Bird, and Senior Firefighter Daniel Santore) and Hamilton County EMS responded to their location. E10 assumed patient care and connected an AED to the patient’s chest. After analyzing, it advised a shock was needed. The patient was shocked one time and then CPR resumed. The patient, Amy Young, regained return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) before being loaded into the ambulance. Amy survived and is in the hospital on her long journey to recovery.

“Amy's heart actually stopped and their immediate action has saved her from any brain damage. There will never be words or actions that can adequately express the gratitude we feel for these amazing people,” said her sister, Christie.

While packing their medical bag on the scene, E10’s crew was approached by Missy Elliott and she informed the firefighters they had helped save her husband’s life on October 14, 2022. Her husband worked at Kenco on Riverside Drive and had suffered a cardiac arrest. E10 Blue was returning from an alarm downtown when the call came in. Upon arrival, they witnessed a co-worker performing CPR on the patient. E10 connected an AED to the patient and a shock was advised. He also regained ROSC before being loaded into the ambulance. Missy’s husband has been doing very well since his cardiac incident and informed them that Kenco now has multiple AEDs throughout the facility. One of their sons who attends UGA has worked to secure AEDs in almost every fraternity house on campus. Their other son is currently working to secure AEDs in locations at Sewanee University.

Medical calls make up nearly 40% of the CFD’s call volume. Our firefighters are all medically trained and that training comes into play at any given moment, whether they’re on duty or off duty. Their life-saving efforts have a profound impact on their community!

Green Shift companies worked a two-alarm house fire in Hixson early Wednesday morning. At 1:36 AM on 2/21/24, Chattanooga Fire responded to a home in the 1700 block of Colonial Shores Drive after 911 received reports that the back of the residence was burning with flames through the roof. Firefighters arrived on scene and found heavy fire coming from the rear of the structure. They went inside and conducted a primary search while attacking the flames and confirmed that everyone was out of the house. Due to the volume of fire, a second alarm was called to bring additional crews to the scene and mutual aid partners were contacted to fill in at CFD fire halls. CFD personnel switched to a defensive attack and by 2:46 AM, the fire was under control. Attack teams then went back inside to target hot spots and check for any remaining areas of fire. Firefighters continued working on the scene for several hours to finish extinguishing the fire. There are no injuries. The cause of the overnight blaze is under investigation. Engine 11, Squad 19, Ladder 19, Quint 16, Quint 6, Ladder 7, Squad 7, Engine 22, Quint 10, Engine 15, Battalion 2, and Battalion 3 were on the call. The Red Cross is assisting the displaced homeowner who safely escaped the fire.

Red Shift companies were on the scene of a fire at WestRock Recycling for several hours on Friday. At 4:27 PM on 2/16/24, CFD personnel responded to 310 E 28th Street and found large stacks of boxes burning outside at the recycling facility. Firefighters got the fire under control and then remained on scene working to fully extinguish the bundles of cardboard and protect exposures. Our mutual aid partners provided coverage at our fire halls during the extended firefighting operation. There were no injuries. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. Quint 1, Squad 1, Ladder 1, Quint 14, Engine 9, Squad 20, Battalion 1, and Battalion 3 were on the call.

Several apartments were damaged in an overnight fire in Hixson. At 12:56 AM on 2/15/24, CFD Red Shift personnel responded to a structure fire in the 5200 block of Hickory Woods Lane. Firefighters could see smoke in the distance as they headed to the scene and they found heavy fire coming from an apartment on the second floor when they arrived. A second alarm was called due to reports of possible entrapment, but crews learned that all occupants were out of the apartment building. Fire companies attacked the fire on the second floor while also searching the burning structure. By 1:30 AM, they had the fire under control and by 2 AM, the fire was out. Fire personnel then conducted salvage and overhaul. There were no injuries. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The Red Cross is assisting displaced residents. All four units sustained damage. “Our firefighters went to work and did what they were supposed to do effectively and efficiently,” said BC3 Carlos Hampton, incident commander. Squad 19, Ladder 19, Engine 11, Quint 16, Engine 22, Quint 6, Quint 8, Quint 10, Quint 17, Engine 12, Engine 4, Engine 15, Squad 7, Ladder 7, Battalion 1, Battalion 2, Battalion 3, CFD Investigations Division, and CFD Supply were on the call.