News Releases

The Chattanooga Fire Department responded to a residential structure fire Tuesday night on Riverside Drive that displaced two occupants. The call came out at 7:26 PM to the 2700 block and Blue Shift companies responded. Quint 10 found smoke showing from the home and made entry with Engine 4. The fire was knocked down quickly and a primary search conducted. No one was found inside. Both occupants were located and safe. By 7:50 PM, crews had the fire under control and entered overhaul. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The American Red Cross is assisting the displaced residents. There were no injuries. Quint 10, Engine 4, Quint 1, Squad 1, Ladder 1, Battalion 1, Battalion 3, CPD, HCEMS, EPB and Red Cross responded.

Aggressive firefighting kept an apartment fire from expanding to additional units at a complex on Mountain Creek Road Tuesday night. It was a quick save by Chattanooga firefighters in a situation that could have been much worse if not for their effective tactics. Companies were called to the Signal View Apartments (900 Mountain Creek Rd) at 9 PM and Quint 17 found heavy smoke and fire coming out of the windows of an apartment on the first floor of one of the buildings inside the large complex. Flames were spreading to an apartment above it on the second floor. Firefighters made an initial attack from the exterior, knocking down the main body of fire. Other members of the CFD worked to evacuate residents in dozens of other surrounding apartments. A second alarm was called to bring more personnel to the apartments. As additional crews arrived on the scene, they transitioned to the interior to continue attacking and extinguishing flames. Firefighters had the fire under control in less than 15 minutes. There were no injuries and the cause of the fire will be under investigation. Two apartments were damaged by the fire. Residents will be receiving assistance from the American Red Cross. Quint 17, Ladder 19, Ladder 5, Engine 12, Engine 22, Engine 4, Engine 5, Ladder 1, Quint 1, Squad 1, Quint 10, Quint 14, Quint 16, Squad 20, Battalion 1, Battalion 2, Battalion 3 (Blue Shift) responded, along with CPD, CFD Investigations, HCEMS, Chattanooga Hamilton County Rescue’s Mobile Rehab Unit. Red Bank, Dallas Bay, East Ridge and Signal Mountain helped provide coverage at our fire halls while CFD crews worked this incident.

Captain Damien Vinson received a prestigious recognition at the 2022 NAAC Ruby Hurley Image Awards, being named the Ralph Cothran Civil Service Officer of the Year. He was nominated by a fellow firefighter for the award. Since graduating from Brainerd High School, Damien Vinson has served his country as well as his community. He has been with the Chattanooga Fire Department for 19 years and recently retired from the US Army Reserves after 23 years and two Iraq deployments as a First Sergeant. Serving as the CFD’s’ Community Outreach and Recruitment Coordinator, he is able to invest back into the same communities that he grew up in as a child. One of the biggest accomplishments so far was being able to go back to Brainerd HS and expose the students to the fire service. This year, Captain Vinson, along with other firefighters who graduated from Brainerd, have been able to teach Fire Forensics to the students with the hopes of them pursuing the fire service and serving their community. This has also been an opportunity for students to be around positive role models. Captain Vinson works countless hours on nights, weekends and holidays attending community meetings and events to promote the CFD and connect with the public. He has successfully increased recruiting numbers and he has taken the department’s community outreach to a whole new level. This has led to many strengthened relationships with neighborhoods across the city, as well as city leaders. We appreciated the work he does to represent the CFD and continuously highlight the department with his innovative and enthusiastic efforts. Congratulations!

Passersby alerted 911 to a restaurant fire on Hixson Pike Monday night. Chattanooga Green Shift companies were called to Rafael's Italian Restaurant (3877 Hixson Pike) at 10:55 PM (10/31/22) and flames were coming through the roof on arrival. Crews had a quick knockdown on a complete kitchen-involved fire. There were no injuries. Quint 16, Engine 12, Ladder 19, Squad 19, Engine 22, Quint 6, Battalion 2 and Battalion 3 responded, along with CFD’s Investigative Division, EPB and Chattanooga Gas. The cause is under investigation.