01-29-16 Fire Destroys Home on Austin Drive

Battalion Chief Nate Middlebrooks said flames were shooting through the roof when the first firefighters arrived on the scene. It took the firefighters roughly 30 minutes to get the blaze under control. Chief Middlebrooks said the house was a total loss, with the damages estimated at $85,000.

The cause of the fire has been ruled accidental. A resident in the house told firefighters that she was heating up grease on the stove, but left it unattended. Chief Middlebrooks said the grease eventually got hot enough to burst into flames, which quickly spread to other parts of the house, including the attic.

The fire displaces two adults. Volunteers with the American Red Cross of Southeast Tennessee were called in to provide assistance to the displaced residents. Chattanooga police, Hamilton County EMS and EPB also provided valuable assistance on the scene.