News Releases

The Chattanooga Fire Department stresses the importance of having functioning smoke alarms *AND* working carbon monoxide detectors after a recent incident at a Chattanooga apartment complex. On November 22, 2022 at 6:44 PM, a concerned citizen reported that her CO alarm had been going off and requested that her apartment get checked out. Firefighters from Station 21 responded to the Meridian at Hamilton Place Apartments on East Brainerd Road and entered the concerned citizen’s unit to investigate. They found elevated levels of carbon monoxide and started working to find the source. The residents were evacuated. They checked the gas fireplace, flue, dryer, and other appliances and then went to search for the heating unit which was not inside the apartment. A neighboring apartment also had elevated CO levels so that resident and his pet were evacuated. Additional firefighters were called to the scene, along with Chattanooga Gas, CPD, HCEMS, McKamey Animal Center and the complex’s management and maintenance. Crews continued checking remaining apartments in the building while the maintenance manager went to the roof to cut off all gas valves for the heating units to all of the apartments. The gas company put locks on all of the meters for apartments that had any level of reported CO. Quint 21 took final readings before turning the scene over to the apartment complex management and gas representative. Work had been done on the gas heat system located on the roof earlier that day. Thanks to the concerned citizen who took action and potentially stopped a dangerous situation from becoming much worse. Their carbon monoxide alarm was their first sign that something wasn’t right.

Chattanooga firefighters had a house fire under control in 15 minutes Monday night (11/21/22). At 5:48 PM, companies responded to reports of a residential structure fire in the 2400 block of East 3rd Street. On arrival, crews found flames coming from the back of the house and showing from the top of the roof. A swift and effective offensive attack was made to extinguish the flames. The homeowner stated that she was not home at the time of the fire which left significant damage to the rear of the structure. The cause is under investigation. There were no injuries. The American Red Cross will be assisting the impacted resident. Engine 5, Ladder 5, Engine 4, Engine 15, Squad 1, Battalion 1 and Battalion 2 Red Shift responded, along with Hamilton County EMS, CPD, EPB and CFD Investigations.

The Chattanooga Fire Department hosted a multi-agency trench rescue course at McDonald Farm in Sale Creek this week. The class learned shoring techniques in an open trench and how to extract victims from a trench collapse. Members of the CFD, CPD, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Cleveland Fire and the Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security are participating in the training. On Friday, the group conducted a final cumulative drill simulating a victim engulfed by a trench collapse. This group of highly skilled and dedicated first responders has been learning about all of the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) disciplines during in-depth, hands-on classes. This past September, they completed rope rescue training which was held at several different locations like the Chickamauga Dam, Greenway Farms and Raccoon Mountain. Firefighters and law enforcement officers completed a week-and-a-half Rope Rescue Technician course. Starting with basic ropes and equipment, they were trained in setting up different types of systems to aid in low, steep, and high angle rescues. They completed their written and practical testing, and put it all together for a rescue scenario at Laurel Point on Raccoon Mountain on the final day of the course. Then in October, the group completed an 80-hour Structural Collapse Specialist Class. The students learned rescue techniques, such as building shoring and concrete breaching and breaking as tools to respond to structural collapse. Drills were held at several locations including the Training Center, the Volunteer Army Ammunitions Plant and the old Sky Zoo property. After the first of the year, the class will take part in confined space rescue training. This is all part of a regional USAR team development that has been ongoing for years in an effort to stay current with best practices and provide efficient and effective responses to major incidents. Training for the task force has been happening since its inception in 2006. 

Firefighters spotted smoke from CFD’s East Lake fire hall Thursday morning (11/17/22) and found themselves working a house fire moments later. Thankfully, no one was injured. The call came out at 10:48 AM to a home in the 1900 block of E 31st Street Place. Engine 9’s crew saw smoke from the station and as they were headed to the scene. On arrival, they found heavy smoke and fire coming from the residential structure as additional units rushed to the location. They were informed that all residents were out of the burning house. Initially, defensive operations were launched to knock down some of the flames. Blue Shift crews had a good attack on the fire and transitioned to the interior, working to get it under control quickly. They remained on scene monitoring hot spots to ensure everything was fully extinguished. The cause of the blaze is under investigation. Some siding was charred on a house next door, but firefighters successfully protected the neighboring home from any further fire damage. Engine 9, Engine 5, Ladder 5, Squad 1, Ladder 1, Squad 13, Battalion 1, Battalion 3, CFD Supply and CFD Investigations responded. Additional photos from the scene. The American Red Cross will be assisting two adults and three children displaced by the fire one week before Thanksgiving.