News Releases

Easter Extrication: The Chattanooga Fire Department responded to a reported motor vehicle crash with entrapment at 8223 Old Lee Highway on 4/9/23 at 11:15 AM. On the scene, Ladder 7 reported that one party was trapped in a Ford Ranger pickup truck. The patient’s arm was pinned underneath the vehicle, making the extrication process complicated. Crews were able to remove the roof of the vehicle after securing the truck using rescue jacks, airbags, and cribbing. The patient was extricated after approximately 20 minutes. His injuries were not life-threatening at the time of this report. Responding units were Chattanooga Fire Ladder 7, Squad 7, Squad 13, Battalion 2 (Red Shift), and several Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department apparatus.

Children's Hospital at Erlanger recognized several first responders for their heroic life-saving efforts on a recent medical call involving a small child. Lifesaving Awards were presented to members of Hamilton County EMS and the Chattanooga Fire Department. The Ladder 13 Blue Shift crew was honored during the ceremony, including Captain Al Walker, Lt. Jonathan Higgins, Senior Firefighter Evan Taylor and Senior Firefighter Jeffrey Hollis. On March 7, 2023, HCEMS and L13 responded to help a one-year-old child named Zakhi. They found Zakhi’s parents desperately doing CPR on their unresponsive, medically-complex child in the backseat of their car in a Burger King parking lot. Firefighters sprang into action to perform CPR and help clear the child’s trach ventilation tube. They did CPR until HCEMS arrived on site and further assisted with clearing the airway. Then both agencies assisted on the ride into Children’s Hospital at Erlanger. Thanks to their heroic efforts, Zakhi is doing well! His family was present for the special recognition on Friday and it meant a lot to the CFD and HCEMS crews to see him smiling!

“These first responders were facing insurmountable odds with a less than 5% chance of survival in situations like this,” said Dr. Marvin Culbertson with Pediatric Emergency Medicine. “But they’ve been trained on pediatric resuscitation and trach care. They knew what to do. They had no second chance or redo with this child. They had to get it right with this patient and they did. They successfully resuscitated the child and saved his life. Thank you all for what you do every day.”

Green Shift companies responded to a fire at ROADTEC on Manufacturers Road in the paint booth area. The call came out right at shift change Sunday morning (4/2/23) at 6:58 AM and once on the scene, fire officials learned that all employees had safely evacuated the structure. The fire was contained to the blast media hopper. Due to the possibility of a flashover into the ductwork, firefighters checked for any rooftop extension. None was found. Engine 12, Squad 1, Ladder 1, Quint 1, Quint 17, Quint 10, Quint 14, Battalion 1, and Battalion 3 responded, along with HCEMS and CPD. There were no injuries.

Chattanooga firefighters had a fire under control in a matter of minutes at a business on Highway 153 Wednesday afternoon. Just before 3 PM, Red Shift companies were called to the Smoothie King in Hixson after Hamilton County 911 received multiple reports of smoke and flames coming from the back of the structure. Ladder 19 and Squad 19 spotted smoke from Hixson Pike as they were headed to the scene. All Smoothie King employees were safe and out of the business upon CFD’s arrival. Crews attacked the fire from the outside while others made entry for an interior attack and through their coordinated efforts, they extinguished the flames fast. Highway 153 was temporarily shut down while firefighting operations were underway. Hoselines had to be stretched across the roadway for water supply. The busy highway quickly reopened for traffic as crews cleaned up. The cause of the fire is under investigation. There were no injuries. There’s damage to the back of the building- on the exterior and to the interior back office- and smoke damage throughout the structure. Ladder 19, Squad 19, Quint 16, Quint 10, Engine 22, Quint 6, Engine 11, Squad 7, Battalion 1, Battalion 3, CFD Investigations, CFD Command Staff, HCEMS and CPD responded.