12-14-14 No Injuries in Morning Fire

Captain David Brooks said that upon arrival, the single occupant, Steven Adams (54yrs old), was outside and advised he was asleep in a different room when he was awakened by heavy smoke from the front bedroom. He observed the mattress was on fire and he closed the door to keep the fire from spreading.

Captain Brooks said firefighters with Engine 4 entered the one-story, residential structure, through the unlocked front door, and observed fire in the first bedroom. The firefighters used an 1.75" attack line to extinguish the fire, which had burned other contents within the bedroom. They also removed a portion of the ceiling in the bedroom to check for fire extensions, using a thermal imaging camera. No injuries were reported.

The wiring was damaged so EPB had to remove the meter to the house. Volunteers with the American Red Cross of Southeast Tennessee responded to the scene to provide assistance to Mr. Adams.

Captain Brooks said the cause of the fire appears to be accidental, most likely from a mattress being placed too close to a wall heater.

Firefighters with Quint 10, Quint 6 and Engine 15 assisted Engine 4 on this fire. Chattanooga police and Hamilton County EMS also provided assistance on the scene.