09-26-14 Firefighters Head Off Commercial Fire on Lee Highway

Captain Terri Roshell said heavy smoke was visible on one end of the building, which contains a number of individual business suites. When firefighters checked the side of Suite 401, Captain Roshell said smoke and flames were visible when they opened a side door.

Battalion Chief Jeff Eldridge took command of the scene and seeing the amount of smoke coming from the building, called for a second alarm response, bringing in a total of 12 fire companies to the scene. The firefighters attacked the fire in Suite 401, but smoke and possibly flames had spread into the attic, threatening the entire building. Chief Eldridge said firefighters used saws to make a "trench cut" in the roof. The resulting opening allowed firefighters access to the attic, which enabled them to extinguish the fire.

Chief Eldridge said the firefighters got the blaze under control in roughly 20 minutes. No injuries were reported. Smoke did spread to other parts of the building, so firefighters forced open some doors to the other suites and used high-powered fans to ventilate the building. A technician with EPB arrived a short time later to cut power to the entire building.

The fire appears to have started in Suite 401, which was reportedly being used as storage for the local Susan G. Komen breast cancer organization. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Chattanooga police, Hamilton County EMS and Chattanooga-Hamilton County Rescue also provided assistance on the scene.