News Releases

The Chattanooga Fire Department responded to a commercial fire at Chattem Chemicals, Inc. (1713 W 38th Street) at 10:51 AM Friday (1/27/23). Crews found fire around one of Chattem’s methanol tanks. The fire was extinguished within minutes and firefighters continued to cool the tank. Our hazmat team arrived on the scene and located a leak in one of the valves going to the tank. The CFD successfully stopped the leak. There were no injuries. The plant was evacuated and everyone was accounted Chattanooga FD remained at the facility to assist Chattem employees while they finished mitigating the scene. There were no hazards involved with this incident. Engine 9, Squad 1, Quint 14, Quint 1, Quint 3, Ladder 5, Engine 5, Ladder 1, Battalion 1, Battalion 3, Hazmat 1 (Red Shift) responded, along with Special Operations, CPD and HCEMS.

Chattanooga firefighters worked an overnight house fire that sent one person to the hospital. Just after 1 AM on 1/18/23, Blue Shift companies responded to a home in the 700 block of West Henderson Drive after 911 received reports from neighbors about smoke coming from the residence. One occupant made it out of the burning structure prior to the CFD’s arrival. That individual was transported to the hospital for an injury from falling, along with smoke inhalation. Crews had flames showing on the front of the house upon arrival and firefighting operations were launched. Efforts were slowed by the amount of contents in the home. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

A mother and her two children are safe after a car fire spread to their Hixson area (Stuart Heights) home, leaving firefighters with quite a battle on their hands Sunday night. Thankfully, there were no injuries and crews successfully saved the structure including most of the roof. At 7:10 PM on 1/15/23, units responded to the 2900 block of Haywood Avenue for a reported vehicle fire in a garage. On scene, they found the burning car and its fiery gas tank was forcing flames into the basement as well as the attic of the residence. The occupants had already escaped, along with their dog. Firefighters immediately began attacking flames from the car fire, as well as in the basement and attic as searches of the structure were simultaneously conducted to confirm that everyone had made it out of the home. A second alarm was called to bring additional personnel to the scene. Tactical teams fought the fire in the basement and attic. Cuts were made in the roof for a ventilation system. Crews continued rotating in and out of the house until the fire was under control and then they tackled hot spots. Firefighting operations spanned several hours. The impacted residents will be receiving assistance from the American Red Cross. Engine 12, Engine 22, Ladder 19, Squad 19, Quint 16, Quint 17, Quint 1, Squad 1, Ladder 1, Quint 10, Battalion 3, Battalion 1 (Green Shift) responded, along with CPD, EPB, and CFD Supply. Thanks to our Tri-State Mutual Aid Association partners for filling in at our stations while CFD worked on this fire scene.

A house fire in the 2500 block of Wheeler Avenue early Saturday (1/14/23) at 5:52 AM displaced three people and two pets and caused extensive damage to the structure. The fire was possibly electrical in nature. There were no injuries. Engine 4, Engine 5, Ladder 5, Quint 6, Squad 1, Battalion 1, Battalion 2 (Green Shift) responded, along with HCEMS, EPB and CPD.