News Releases

On 3/18/22 at 11 PM, members of the Chattanooga Fire Department responded to the 1700 block of South Highland Park Avenue where nineteen 55-gallon drums had been dumped in a residential area and were leaking an unknown fluid. CFD’s Special Operations Division was notified and responded to the location. They found that the fluid from the drums had leaked into two other adjacent yards. An environmental cleanup company was notified. Other notifications were made to the appropriate agencies, including TEMA and TDEC. Impacted residents were also informed about the situation. The spill was confined and secured and there was no threat to the surrounding neighborhood. Members of the CFD's Special Operations Division were on the scene assisting with the cleanup effort for more than twelve hours and went above and beyond to make sure all procedures were followed and all steps were taken. Other city departments, including CPD and Public Works, were also involved. The investigation into this incident is ongoing by the Chattanooga Police Department. 

On Saturday (3/19/22), Red Shift companies were dispatched to 2599 Hiwassee Street at 2:30 AM on an accident with entrapment. Engine 4 arrived on scene with HCEMS and CPD to a one-car MVC rollover. There was heavy damage to the front and driver side of the vehicle, located in the median divider, on the west side of the Wilcox Tunnel. It was learned that the driver had lost control and struck a tree, located in the median. The vehicle was found resting on its top. The patient was pinned long ways to the floorboard of the front seat. The patient was able to communicate with first responders, but access to the patient was minimal from the exterior of the vehicle. He was completely enveloped by metal. Squad 1 arrived on scene to assist with the rescue. Squad 13 arrived to support the extrication team. The extrication process provided an access point to the patient, where a member of Medic 3 entered the vehicle to provide care and added protection to the patient while the extrication process continued. At 3 AM, the extrication process was complete and the patient was extracted from the vehicle. The extrication itself took 18 minutues. The patient was then packaged and transported to the hospital. It’s believed he suffered a fractured femur in the crash. Great work by Engine 4, Squad 1, Squad 13 and Battalion 3 on getting the patient out of the wreckage.

Several people managed to escape a residential fire Thursday morning by jumping from the second story of the structure and another occupant was rescued by firefighters. Multiple CFD Red Shift companies responded to a fire in a duplex in the 3400 block of Hughes Avenue around 5:20 AM. Quint 14 arrived on scene to find a resident on a second story ledge and rescued them with a ladder. Two other residents had already jumped. Firefighters were told that all other occupants were out of the structure. Quint 14 personnel then went on fire attack and found fire in the kitchen. Both sides of the duplex were searched by crews. The fire was caused by food left on the stove. The American Red Cross was contacted to assist seven displaced residents. There were no injuries. Quint 14, Engine 9, Quint 1, Squad 1, Ladder 1, Battalion 1, Battalion 3, CPD, EPB and the Red Cross responded to this incident.

CFD Red Shift companies made a very fast stop on a North Chattanooga house fire, preventing flames from spreading through the residence in the 200 block of W Bell Avenue. Smoke was showing on arrival Monday afternoon around 2:30 PM. Firefighters made an interior attack and had the fire extinguished within 10 minutes. They checked for hot spots, then removed smoke from the structure. The cause of the fire is under investigation. No one was home at the time. There were no injuries. Engine 12, Quint 14, Quint 1, Squad 1, Quint 17, Squad 20, Battalion 1, Battalion 3, HCEMS, CPD, EPB, and CFD Investigations Division responded.