News Releases

The Chattanooga Fire Department has learned that the victim from last week's fire at the Rustic Village North Apartments has passed away. Karen Elaine Russell, 67, sustained burns in the blaze that happened a week ago and she had been in critical condition after being airlifted to a burn center for specialized treatment. Fire investigators were informed today that Ms. Russell succumbed to her injuries. Her family members have been notified. Members of the CFD offer sincere condolences to Ms. Russell's relatives and friends in the wake of her passing. The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.

Original release from 8/31/22: An apartment fire left a woman in critical condition and also sent a firefighter to the hospital Wednesday morning, prompting a large response from the CFD and other agencies. The call came out at 7:36 AM at the Rustic Village North Apartments in the 4600 block of Sunflower Lane, located not far off Highway 58. Chattanooga Fire Operations Chief Rick Boatwright saw the smoke from 58 on his way to work and pulled into the complex. He spotted smoke and flames coming from Building 12 and immediately started knocking on doors to alert residents. The structure was occupied at the time and it was imperative that families get out fast as the flames and toxic smoke spread. Chief Boatwright carried a child out to safety as another man, Jimmy Franklin, also took action. Franklin called 911 to report the fire and lifted an injured woman over her balcony so she could escape. He then went back into the burning building to knock on doors and get residents to evacuate. A second alarm was called to bring additional personnel to the scene. Firefighters arrived and started attacking the fire from the outside, knocking down flames. They launched an interior attack and simultaneously searched the structure. Crews conducted a secondary search and continued working until the fire was out. No one was found inside and apartment management confirmed that all residents were out of the building. CFD companies remained on scene for several hours checking for extension to make sure the fire was fully extinguished. Nineteen families were displaced by the blaze because power had to be cut to the whole building. Those residents will be receiving assistance from the American Red Cross. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Chief Boatwright was treated at the hospital for smoke inhalation and later released. The woman who sustained burns was airlifted to a burn center for further treatment of her injuries. She is in critical condition. Quint 6, Quint 10, Engine 15, Quint 8, Squad 19, Squad 7, Engine 5, Quint 21, Squad 13, Quint 16, Ladder 7, Ladder 5, Engine 4, Ladder 13, Ladder 19, Battalion 2, Battalion 3 (Green Shift), CFD’s Safety Chief, CFD’s Operations Chief, CFD’s Investigations Division, CPD, HCEMS, Red Cross, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Rescue’s Rehabilitation Unit and Hamilton County 911’s Incident Dispatch Unit responded. Thanks to our Tri-State Mutual Aid partners for answering calls at our fire halls while crews worked this incident.

A juvenile is facing multiple charges for allegedly setting a string of fires in the Woodmore area of Chattanooga. The 13-year-old, who is not being identified because of his age, is accused of setting fire to two homes, a trash can, two cars and attempting to set fire to a third vehicle in the same neighborhood on Tuesday night. Members of CFD Investigations Division were called to the 700 block of Sylvan Avenue around 6 PM on 9/6/22. Engine 15 personnel had responded to a fully involved vehicle fire and extinguished it. They quickly learned that there was much more involved to the case and notified investigators. A trash can fire was located in front of another residence on Sylvan Avenue and then a neighbor informed authorities that the back of his car had been on fire at his home on Sylvan Avenue. On nearby Aubrey Avenue in the 800 block, a fire was set on the front porch of a home causing minor damage, but there were people inside the structure at the time of the arson. At another occupied house in the 800 block of Aubrey Avenue, a fire was set on the front steps leaving charring. A neighbor across the street knocked on the windows and doors to alert the occupants and stomped the fire out. A witness said she was eating dinner inside her Aubrey Avenue residence when she looked out her door and saw her neighbor’s porch on fire. She spotted the suspect bent down next to a dark gray car and getting ready to set it on fire. She yelled at him and he ran and jumped over a fence. Chattanooga police officers responded, combed the area and found the juvenile hiding behind a house on East Avenue. He was taken into custody as investigators processed the different scenes, spoke to victims and witnesses, and pieced the chain of incidents together. The teen has been charged with two counts of Attempted Aggravated Arson and four counts of Setting Fire to Personal Property. He was interviewed at CFD Fire Administration with a parent present, arrested and booked into the Juvenile Detention Center.

“We appreciate the assistance of the Chattanooga Police Department in apprehending this young suspect before any further damage could be done and we are very glad no one was injured in the series of fires,” said Captain Henry McElvain, the lead investigator on the case.

CFD Green Shift companies worked an extrication on Hixson Pike in the S curves Friday morning. It was a two-car motor vehicle crash. One patient from each vehicle was transported to the hospital (two patients total). Firefighters had to cut one patient out of a Nissan on the center line. The collision happened around 11:45 AM. Quint 16, Squad 19, Squad 1 and Battalion 1 responded.

Chattanooga firefighters responded to the Acropolis Mediterranean Grill on Hamilton Place Boulevard Thursday night and found a fire on the roof that had started in the vent system. It happened at 6:36 PM. Engine 8 arrived on scene and Captain Tim Greer established command with smoke showing from the roof. Firefighters made access to the roof and then found and extinguished the fire in the vent system with some extension underneath the roof. The fire was out within 10 minutes of arrival. There were no injuries. Engine 8, Squad 7, Ladder 7, Ladder 13, Squad 13, Quint 21, Engine 15, Engine 4, Battalion 2 and Battalion 1 (Red Shift) responded. Damage was minimal. The restuarant reopened quickly after repairs were completed.