News Releases

Several LongHorn Steakhouse employees acted fast Sunday morning (1/23) when a fire in the kitchen got out of control, safely exiting the restaurant and calling 911 for help. Multiple CFD Red Shift companies responded to the business at 5771 Brainerd Road. The kitchen hood was on fire and flames were coming through the hood vent on the roof. A second alarm was called to bring additional staffing and resources to the scene. The restaurant was closed at the time. Staff members were inside preparing to open at 11 AM for lunch and indicated that the fire started over the chargrill. Firefighters made an interior attack and located fire in the kitchen area as well as the attic space. They extinguished the fire by 10:45 AM and then launched salvage and overhaul operations. It was complex because fire made its way to different void spaces in the roof so extensive work was done to make sure all of the flames were fully extinguished. There no injuries. The business will be closed for the time being following the accidental fire. “The most important thing is the safety of our team. We are so glad that everyone made it out and that they’re alright. We look forward to serving the public again as soon as possible,” said LongHorn’s Director of Operations. 

This was the second restaurant fire CFD crews worked Sunday morning. At 6:23 AM, Blue Shift crews responded to a small fire in the kitchen at Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen on Gunbarrel Road. The sprinkler system in the restaurant activated and kept flames from spreading throughout the business. The CFD was notified to respond and finished putting the fire out. It appears oily rags smoldered and ignited. Cheddar’s was closed at the time. The fire was unintentional and accidental and caused minor damage to the structure.

There were no injuries in a Sunday night residential fire on Wheeler Avenue. Green Shift companies were called to a home in the 2000 block at 5:07 PM. The residents were home at the time of the fire, but they got out safely. Crews had a quick knockdown on the fire, containing it to the kitchen. They then focused on hot spots, making sure everything was fully extinguished . The cause is under investigation. Engine 4, Engine 5, Ladder 5, Ladder 1, Squad 1, Quint 10, Battalion 1, Battalion 3 (Green), CPD and EMS responded.

The Chattanooga Fire Department has received a $50,000 donation in the form of coffee! Tchibo provided 5,000 bags of their coffee for our firefighters. It’s being distributed to all 20 of our fire halls. We appreciate Tchibo’s generosity and the caffeine for those long, busy shifts! The company has made donations like this to a number of different departments across the nation. “We are very excited about the opportunity to make this donation to first responders in Chattanooga -- we can't think of a more deserving group of people,” their spokeswoman said. Thank you!

The Chattanooga Fire Department proudly presented the Chattanooga Public Library with a copy for our newly published history book, documenting 150 years of firefighters’ service to the city and its citizens. Fire Chief Phil Hyman and Battalion Chief David Thompson Jr., CFD Historian, provided Library Director Corinne Hill with their copy of the book so it can be added to the library’s local history department.

The CFD officially went into service on November 14, 1871 as a volunteer fire department composed of 105 citizens who pledged themselves to help fight fires. Improvements were made from year to year and officials saw the need for a larger department. In 1880, the first paid company was formed. From there, the agency grew and evolved with more members and equipment. Today, it’s an ISO Class 1 department, providing superior property fire protection.

Our history is preserved in a new comprehensive book that was just published by Heritage Portraits & Albums. The book is a tribute to all those who have served in the department and it documents the department’s story chronically through the years as the agency continually adapted to meet the needs of an ever-growing city. Years of research and countless hours of hard work went into the publication. A group of current and retired firefighters combed through thousands of photos, articles and documents to compile the details, major events and department milestones in the book. It is an honor to have it added to the library’s collection. Chief Thompson said it was great to see the project come full circle since a lot of research was done at the library to gather information for the book. 

“Since 1871, the Chattanooga Fire Department has protected lives and property. The journey to today’s CFD is all about sacrifice, hard work and dedication and that story is perfectly laid out in this new history book. It was a massive undertaking and we are proud of the final product. It’s fantastic to know that it will be at the library to share with the public for many years to come,” Chief Phil Hyman added.