News Releases

The Chattanooga Fire Department hosted an 80-hour structural collapse specialist class that teaches rescuers to be able to assist and mitigate a structural collapse incident. Students began the course with learning how to lift, move, break, and breach different types of heavy objects that they would encounter in a collapse situation. They also learned how to turn the collapsed structure from an unstable, to stable environment in order to begin rescue operations. This class is vital for our regional USAR team. Structural collapse capabilities have come into play in recent years following natural disasters like tornadoes, and other instances when structures have been compromised by car wrecks, for example. It’s also part of our USAR Team’s deployment capabilities in the event that they’re called to a structural collapse in this region. There were 22 participants in the class, including firefighters and members of law enforcement. Agencies represented include: Chattanooga FD, Cleveland, TN Fire Department, Soddy Daisy Fire Department, Red Bank Fire Department, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, and Bradley County Fire & Rescue.

The final exercise created a “real life” scenario at a property on Highway 153 that the CFD has received permission to use as a training site. It simulated a wreck involving a car that left the roadway and struck a residence, trapping several victims. Students were tasked with problem solving using their newly acquired collapse specialist skills. All of the techniques they learned were used to conduct the mock rescue safely and effectively. Members of the class will continue learning in September with confined space training and trench rescue in October.

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Structural Collapse 5

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Local public safety agencies took part in an active shooter training exercise at Chattanooga State Community College on Wednesday. It provided a realistic setting for the drill and allowed for collaboration between first responders on a large-scale emergency incident. The CFD, CPD, campus police, Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, Hamilton County EMS, Hamilton County 911, Erlanger Hospital, and Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security participated in the training exercise. Months of planning went into the event and hundreds of people were involved.

Chatt State active shooter exercise

One patient was trapped in critical condition in this wreck off I-24W at the Market Street exit Tuesday morning. Squad 1, Squad 13, Engine 5, and Ladder 1 Green Shift freed the patient. Hamilton County EMS took over patient care and transported the crash victim to the hospital.

Market Street exit wreck

The Quint 14 Blue Shift crew helped a Chattanooga mom deliver her baby and the newborn was named Blessing! On 8/5/23 at 20:09, Quint 14 responded to Quinn Adams St on an imminent childbirth call. Quint 14 arrived on the scene and established patient care of the mother. Within moments, Quint 14 established patient care of a second patient. Care was continued for both patients and then transferred to Hamilton County EMS upon their arrival. Quint 14 remained on the scene assisting with loading the patients for transport to the hospital and then returned to service. Our firefighters see a lot of terrible, tragic things in their line of work so to welcome a new life into the world is a blessing!

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Slick, wet roads in Chattanooga contributed to two incidents on our interstates Sunday morning, keeping our firefighters and Special Operations Division busy. At 7:39 AM, on I-75N at the split, a tractor trailer wrecked and lost 200 gallons of diesel. Then at 8:47 AM on I-24W at the top of the ridge cut, first responders found a jack-knifed tractor trailer that lost 150 gallons of diesel. Hazmat specialists from the CFD responded on both calls and Tri-State Environmental came out to handle cleanup.

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