News Releases

Great coordination by local, state and federal agencies during a joint drill in Chattanooga on the Tennessee River! It was held at the Tennessee Riverpark off Amnicola Highway Tuesday morning. Thanks to the U.S. Coast Guard for organizing everything because this kind of training is great practice for large-scale incidents, including mass casualty events. This exercise simulated a passenger vessel, like a river boat on a sightseeing tour, taking on water. Passengers were forced to abandon ship, sustaining different kinds of injuries. Chattanooga firefighters and other first responders rescued the “victims” and brought them to the boat ramp to be treated by emergency medical personnel. Everyone worked together as the incident unfolded and it highlighted the preparedness of our public safety agencies.

A Chattanooga family is receiving assistance from the American Red Cross after their home and belongings were heavily damaged by fire on Sunday afternoon. At 1:20 PM on 7/17/22, Green Shift companies responded to a reported house fire in the 1000 block of Givens Road off East Brainerd Road. When the crew from Station 21 (on East Brainerd Road) pulled out of the fire hall to head to the scene, they spotted heavy smoke. When units arrived, flames were through the roof. Initially, it was not clear if anyone was still inside the home so a second alarm was called for additional personnel to respond and assist with fighting the blaze. Fire officials soon learned that all residents were safe and accounted for so a defensive fire attack was launched for safety reasons. Fifty percent of the roof had collapsed, creating dangerous conditions for firefighters inside the structure. The second alarm was cancelled and crews on the scene continued working to get the fire under control. Aerial operations got underway as other personnel used handlines to fight the fire on the ground. Companies remained on scene for several hours tackling the flames and then hitting hot spots to make sure the fire was fully extinguished. The cause is under investigation. There were no injuries. The Red Cross is helping two adults and two children. Quint 21, Quint 8, Ladder 7, Squad 7, Ladder 13, Squad 13, Battalion 1, Battalion 2, Battalion 3, Engine 15, Engine 9, Ladder 1, Squad 1, Quint 6 responded, along with CFD Supply, CFD Investigations, CPD, EPB, HCEMS, and Chattanooga-Hamilton County Rescue’s Rehab Unit. Thanks to our mutual aid companies for filling in at several of our fire halls while the CFD worked this incident. 

If you see flashing lights and first responders at the Riverpark and on the Tennessee River Tuesday, don’t be alarmed. It’s part of a big joint training event. In an effort to maintain maritime incident readiness, the Coast Guard, local, county and state agencies will conduct a large-scale drill involving a passenger vessel operated by Chattanooga Riverboat on the Tennessee River at the Riverpark boat ramp. It will take place Tuesday, July 19, 2022 from 9-11 AM. The purpose of this drill is to enhance maritime incident response for both law enforcement and fire/rescue agency personnel who may respond to a maritime incident occurring along the Tennessee River regional area. The drills include a wide range of boat tactics and emergency response procedures. Drills will involve multiple agency boats responding, displays of flashing lights and operations near a passenger vessel on the Tennessee River mile marker 469 near the Highway 153 bridge.

Chattanooga firefighters faced dangerous conditions as they rescued a man from a burning Highland Park home early Friday morning. Blue Shift companies were called to a residence in the 1400 block of Bailey Avenue at 3:46 AM. On arrival, they found black smoke coming from the back door and fire in a bedroom window on the side of the structure involving the downstairs apartment. People on the scene were screaming that someone was still inside the house. Crews encountered heavy smoke from the ceiling to the floor when they entered the structure. Ladder 5 conducted a search and quickly found the victim while encountering extreme heat as Engine 5 did fire suppression. The victim was found unresponsive in a bathroom from apparent smoke inhalation. Firefighters carried him out the back door and immediately started CPR. Patient care was transferred to paramedics and the patient was transported to the hospital. He is in critical condition. Meanwhile, CFD personnel attacking the fire in the residence had it under control within minutes, containing it to the room of origin. Other companies assisted in the overall firefighting operation. The cause of the second alarm fire is under investigation. Residents in the upstairs apartment escaped and were not injured. Several residents in the first floor apartment also escaped. It appears that injured party yelled to wake up his family so they could get out and then stayed behind to try to put the fire out, as reported by relatives. There’s extensive damage to the downstairs apartment. Engine 5, Ladder 5, Quint 1, Ladder 1, Engine 4, Squad 13, Ladder 13, Engine 15, Engine 9, Quint 10, Squad 19, Battalion 2, Battalion 3 (Blue Shift), CFD Supply, CFD Investigations, HCEMS and CPD responded.