News Releases

An early morning fire in Lookout Valley damaged a family’s home, but thankfully, the residents and their baby were able to safely escape the burning structure. CFD Green Shift companies were called to a house in the 3300 block of Kellys Ferry Road at 3:50 AM Wednesday after a neighbor called 911 to report the fire. The neighbor also rushed over to notify the sleeping family about what was happening. Initially, it was not clear if the occupants and their child were still inside, so a second alarm was called for an increased response due to possible entrapment. Units found flames coming from the back side of the garage when they pulled up to the scene. An offensive attack was initiated along with a search of the house. When fire officials received word that all occupants were out and accounted for, the second alarm was cancelled. Crews got the blaze under control by 4:40 AM which was fast considering the amount of fire they were up against. They saved the structure, but there’s a lot of damage to the residence. The cause of the fire is under investigation. There were no injuries. The American Red Cross will be assisting the displaced couple and their newborn baby. Quint 3, Squad 20, Ladder 1, Quint 1, Squad 1, Quint 14, Battalion 2, Battalion 3, HCEMS, CPD and EPB responded. Our mutual aid partners provided coverage at several of our fire halls while CFD companies were fighting this fire. Thanks to the neighbor who dialed 911 and then knocked on the family’s doors and windows, helping to get them out of a very dangerous situation.

One person was taken to the hospital late Sunday night after escaping a burning home at the foot of Signal Mountain. At 11:12 PM, Hamilton County 911 received reports that a house was engulfed in flames in the 300 block of Glendale Drive. First arriving CFD companies found the front part of the residence fully involved and launched an offensive attack and a search of the home. A second alarm was called to bring additional units to the scene due to possibility of people still inside the structure. Fire officials soon learned that all parties were out of the house. Firefighters were able to get the fire under control quickly with their interior attack and they also protected a nearby neighbor’s home. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Quint 17, Ladder 1, Squad 1, Quint 1, Engine 12, Quint 16, Engine 22, Quint 14, Battalion 2 and Battalion 3 Green Shift responded. Our mutual aid partners helped respond to calls at our fire halls while CFD firefighters were on this call. One patient was transported to the hospital with smoke inhalation and two others were treated on the scene by HCEMS for smoke inhalation. The American Red Cross will be assisting three adults impacted by the fire.  

On Saturday afternoon, the CFD and HCEMS responded to a medical call that turned out being geared towards a rescue. At 1354, Quint 14 was dispatched to the area of 600 Ochs Hwy on the side of Lookout Mountain for a female party actively seizing. The party was about a quarter mile down the trail below the Glenn Falls Trail Head. Quint 14 called for Squad 20 to respond for manpower and their "Big Wheel" rescue device. Quint 14, Squad 20, and Medic #15 hiked down the trail and made contact with the patient who was found still actively seizing. The patient was stabilized, packaged for transport, and secured to the "Big Wheel". Quint 14, Squad 20, and Medic 15 personnel traversed the steep terrain back up the mountain to the trailhead parking lot where the patient was transferred over to the ambulance. The man and his wife (the party having a seizure) were visiting the area from Georgia and were just out hiking when the incident occurred. Quint 14 arrived on scene at 1401 and was back up at the ambulance with the patient at 1435.

Battalion Chief David Thompson Jr. is retiring after 26 years with the Chattanooga Fire Department! He has responded to thousands of calls and incidents, assisting so many citizens on their most challenging days. His compassion, dedication and leadership have certainly left a mark on our department. David was hired in 1996, but he’s been around the CFD his entire life since his father was a long-serving captain. David’s twin brothers, Robert and Jack, are also firefighters. He served eight years in the US Army Reserves as a combat medic and flight medic and then joined the CFD, working his way through the ranks. He’s been the battalion chief for District 2 Green Shift for the past five years, overseeing response in an area that spans north of Missionary Ridge to Ooltewah and managing crews from six different fire halls. On top of being in command of many large-scales incidents and fires, he’s also responded to tornadoes, wild fires and regional rescue operations. He’s someone who is always willing to help and a steadfast leader in the midst of very challenging, chaotic situations. David has three life-saving awards and a Medal of Merit. He served on the training committee for five years, the Honor Guard for 17 years (14 of those years as commander), the accident review/safety committee 16 years and he was hall coordinator for 12 years at Station 1. He’s also been the CFD Historian for three years and oversaw the creation of the department’s most comprehensive history book in honor of our 150th anniversary. He teaches the history of the CFD to the fire academy to make sure everyone know the department’s storied past. This father of four and grandfather of three is looking forward to spending more time with his family upon his retirement. He’s also going to be an instructor at TVA’s Emergency Response Training Center, teaching TVA employees in the areas of fire, rescue, EMS, hazmat and incident command. Thank you for your service and for all that you’ve done for the CFD over the years, BC Thompson!