News Releases

A dangerous kitchen fire pinned family members in the second story of their Chattanooga house, but quick-thinking neighbors took action to help them get out as firefighters rushed to the scene. Multiple 911 calls were made around 4:30 PM Thursday with reports of smoke coming from a home in the 1200 block of Franklin Drive off East Brainerd Road. Several of the residents made it out safely, but others were upstairs and found themselves trapped. A neighbor spotted a girl in one of the upstairs windows and convinced her to jump into his arms, saving her. Then he saw her father in another upstairs window. The resident later told fire officials that the smoke was so thick and dark that he struggled to even find a window. The neighbor got help from another Good Samaritan who lives nearby and together, they pulled a trampoline over so the man could jump out of the second story window without getting hurt. CFD Green Shift companies arrived and found heavy black smoke as well as flames through the roof on the side of the structure. They launched an interior attack and had the fire under control in less than 20 minutes. Firefighters rotated in the heat and did a thorough overhaul to make sure the flames were fully extinguished. The cooking fire was mostly contained to the kitchen area. It displaced two adults and six children. There were no injuries. We commend the heroic neighbors who stepped up to save lives in this terrifying and dangerous situation. Their fast thinking, resourcefulness and bravery were remarkable. Ladder 13, Squad 13, Quint 8, Quint 6, Squad 7, Ladder 7, Battalion 1 and Battalion 2 responded, along with the American Red Cross who will be assisting the impacted family. Highway 58’s Rehab Truck, EPB, CPD and HCEMS were also on the scene.

***Also on this scene as crews were launching firefighting operations and working to establish a water supply, several drivers going past the location drove over the fire hoses. Please do not do this! It could potentially damage the lines and impede on efforts to attack the fire, endangering firefighters and any victims who could still be inside. It can also cause damage to your vehicle and leave you with a citation.

Franklin Dr house fire

Members of the Chattanooga Fire Department responded to an apartment fire Sunday afternoon (7/31/22) that displaced residents in several units. At 1:34 PM, Red Shift companies were called to the Rustic Village Apartments at 510 Central Drive and found light smoke inside one of the buildings in the complex. A fire in the kitchen in one of the units got into cabinets, the ceiling and the walls in between two apartments. Firefighters had it under control in 15 minutes and then checked for any further extension. Residents in eight apartments were displaced by the fire due to the damage sustained to the building (fire, smoke, water, electrical). There were no injuries. The complex will be assisting impacted families. Squad 13, Ladder 13, Quint 8, Quint 21, Squad 7, Ladder 7, Engine 15, Quint 6, Battalion 2, Battalion 3 and CFD Investigations responded. Ultimately, residents in 16 units (one entire building within the apartment complex) were displaced. Power had to be cut to the building for safety reasons as the fire was deemed electrical.

rustic village july 2022

CFD Blue Shift companies worked a vehicle/structure fire in Hixson Monday evening (7/25/22). At 7:28 PM, firefighters responded to a residence in the 4700 block of Metro Park Lane off Norcross Road. A mother and her children were watching TV when they heard what sounded like an explosion. They found their vehicle on fire next to the house. They made it out safely as the flames spread to the attic of the single story duplex. CFD crews were able to make a quick stop on the fire and kept damage to the structure to a minimum. The cause is under investigation.

metro park lane house fire

Chattanooga firefighters quickly tackled a boat fire Saturday morning in the Chickamauga Lock. Units responded to Trailhead Drive at 8:13 AM and found the burning vessel. Smoke from the fire could be seen by drivers on Highway 153 as CFD companies rushed to the scene. Two people in the boat got out and started swimming. They were picked up by a construction boat in the area. Fireboat 10 knocked the flames down with a deck gun. Then the boat was pulled it out of the lock into the river so crews could finish extinguishing the fire. The boat will be towed out of the water. The cause of the fire is unknown. The two passengers who jumped into the water were transported to the hospital with unknown injuries. Squad 19, Fireboats 6 and 10, Tanker 22, Engine 22, and Battalion 3 (Blue Shift) responded.

boat fire

The CFD and Dallas Bay Fire & Rescue rescued two people caught in dangerous weather conditions Thursday morning as storms rolled through our area. A mother and daughter wanted to see the sunrise in their kayaks, but their kayaks were overturned as rain, thunder and lightning moved in and raged around them. Due to the wind, rain and waves, they were unable to paddle and maintain control of the kayaks. CFD and Dallas Bay responded and firefighters were able to get them out of water. Both kayakers were rescued and their kayaks recovered. Once they were secure on the Dallas Bay Fire and Rescue boat, CFD Fireboat 6 was able to locate the second kayak about 600 yards away from their present location. Dallas Bay took the mother and daughter back to the beach where they had launched their kayaks. They were found and recovered near Wolftever Creek near Highway 58 at 7 AM. Please check the weather before going out on the water so as not to put yourself, your loved ones and first responders in harm’s way.

kayaker rescue