News Releases

The Chattanooga Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to celebrate the 100^th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week (FPW), October 9-15, 2022. This year’s FPW campaign, “Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape,” works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe from home fires.

“Today’s homes burn faster than ever. You may have as little as two minutes (or even less time) to safely escape a home fire from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Your ability to get out of a home during a fire depends on early warning from smoke alarms and advance planning,” said Lorraine Carli, vice president of Outreach and Advocacy at NFPA.

The CFD encourages all residents to embrace the 2022 Fire Prevention Week theme.

“It’s important for everyone to plan and practice a home fire escape. Everyone needs to be prepared in advance, so that they know what to do when the smoke alarm sounds. Given that every home is different, every home fire escape plan will also be different,” said Chief William Matlock, Chattanooga Fire Marshal. “Have a plan for everyone in the home. Children, older adults, and people with disabilities may need assistance to wake up and get out. Make sure that someone will help them!”

Chattanooga’s Fire Prevention Bureau wants to share these key home fire escape planning tips:

Make sure your plan meets the needs of all your family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.

Smoke alarms should be installed inside every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of your home. Smoke alarms should be interconnected so when one sounds, they all sound.

Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows open easily.

Have an outside meeting place a safe distance from your home where everyone should meet.

Practice your home fire drill at least twice a year with everyone in the household, including guests. Practice at least once during the day and at night.

An aggressive attack by Chattanooga firefighters prevented flames from spreading through a vacant building downtown Tuesday morning. Hamilton County 911 received reports of smoke coming from the All Saints Academy on Lindsay Street just after 8:30 AM. Responding Green Shift companies found heavy smoke coming from the third floor of the boarded-up structure and they made a very quick stop on the fire. The cause is now under investigation. There were no injuries and no one was found inside. Ladder 1, Squad 1, Quint 1, Engine 5, Ladder 5, Engine 4, Engine 12, Battalion 1 and Battalion 3 were on the scene.

The Chattanooga Fire Department launched a hazardous materials response at the Bank of America on Gunbarrel Road on Monday. Tests were done on an unknown substance found at the bank and the tests came back negative for any hazard. Crews were on scene for several hours. There were no injuries. Squad 7, Squad 1, Hazmat-1, Battalion 2 (Blue Shift) and CFD’s Special Operations Division were on the call. By 12:15 PM, the bank reopened and CFD companies returned to service.

Chattanooga firefighters worked a vehicle fire in a basement garage at a home in the Lookout Valley area late Wednesday night. It happened around 11:15 PM in the 3300 block of Oak Burr Drive. The residents smelled smoke and called 911. CFD personnel had the fire under control in 10 minutes and there was no extension into the main living area. It caused thousands of dollars in damage to the car and the garage. There were no injuries. Squad 20, Squad 1, Ladder 1, Quint 1, Quint 3, Battalion 1, Battalion 3 (Red Shift), EPB, HCEMS and CPD responded.