News Releases

Heavy smoke from a house fire could be seen by Chattanooga firefighters as they left their Hixson fire hall on Sunday night, prompting officials to request additional manpower on the scene. Just after 7:30 PM, Red Shift crews were called to a Big Ridge home in the 6000 block of Silver Fox Lane. Squad 19 reported that black smoke was visible from the fire station and a second alarm response was initiated. Dispatchers started receiving multiple 911 calls about smoke in the area. Companies found heavy fire coming from the garage on arrival and they launched a defensive attack, resulting in a good stop. They successfully kept the flames from spreading to the rest of the structure. With the fire under control quickly, firefighters spent time doing a thorough overhaul. There were no injuries. The American Red Cross was contacted to assist two adults and their dog and cat. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The garage area was heavily damaged and there was significant smoke and water damage throughout the residence. Squad 19, Ladder 19, Engine 11, Engine 12, Engine 22, Quint 16, Quint 6, Quint 10, Engine 4, Engine 15, Quint 8, Squad 7, Ladder 7, Ladder 13, Squad 13, Battalion 2, Battalion 3 (Red Shift), CFD Investigations, CFD Supply, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Rescue’s Support Services, CPD, EPB, HCEMS and the American Red Cross responded. 

The Chattanooga Fire Department conducted a successful rope rescue in Hixson after two hikers fell off a cliff and were injured. Firefighters responded to Greenway Farms (4000 block of Gann Store Road) at 1:30 on Saturday to begin the operation. One of the hikers broke his leg and the other injured his back in the fall. Crews were about a half mile in the woods roping the patients out. Engine 11, Squad 19, Ladder 19, Squad 7, Ladder 7, USAR 1, Battalion 2, Battalion 3, Special Operations, Chattanooga Hamilton County Rescue’s Rehab Truck Response and HCEMS were on the scene.

A Hixson family managed to escape their burning home early Friday morning as Chattanooga firefighters rushed to tackle the second alarm blaze. The call came out at 1:09 AM to a residence in the 800 block of Brynwood Drive and 911 received reports of heavy smoke. When companies arrived on the scene, they found a fully involved basement fire and launched an aggressive offensive attack from the upstairs and downstairs. It resulted in a quick knockdown and they saved the home from being a total loss. A second alarm allowed for additional manpower. Those in command of the response indicated that at least half of the structure sustained major damage. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The residents got out of the home on their own and they were not injured. The American Red Cross was contacted to assist four adults and two children. Quint 16, Ladder 19, Squad 19, Engine 22, Quint 6, Quint 17, Quint 10, Ladder 7, Squad 7, Battalion 2 and Battalion 3 (Green Shift) responded, along with CFD Investigations.

Operations Deputy Chief Rick Boatwright, Assistant Chief William Andrews, Captain Brad Freeman and Lt. Jack Thompson have been recognized by the Chattanooga Police Department for the roles they played on the joint Incident Management Team following the deadly Easter 2020 tornado. From rescue and recovery operations to securing resources, there were so many things they helped with behind-the-scenes to make a difference and an impact. Here’s just some of what they accomplished for their community:

-Found ways for resources and responders to get to areas where emergency vehicles and fire trucks couldn’t go.

-Made sure the TN Mental Health Strike Team was deployed to help every citizen in the city and county impacted by the tornado.

-Coordinated damage assessments on every structure for TEMA and FEMA, working with the City’s Office of Performance Management and Open Data. This created detailed mapping of damaged areas and sped up the process for federal disaster relief.

-Worked with agencies to provide thousands of meals to residents and first responders.

-Managed roadways to open them for crews.

-Contacted companies to provide cell phone and internet service (children were doing their school work from home at that time due to the pandemic).

-Ensured that the hardest hit neighborhoods still had an adequate water supply.

-Coordinated with many different agencies to help put the put the pieces back together.

The group would like to thank everyone who assisted them and citizens at that time.