News Releases

A Hixson couple safely escaped their home as flames engulfed their front porch and began spreading. At 2:38 PM on Sunday 11/19/23, Blue Shift companies responded to the 4800 block of Winding Lane after 911 received reports that the residents heard a noise on their porch and saw that it was on fire. They went out the back and were not injured. Firefighters arrived and found the porch fully involved with flames moving into the home and attic. They immediately attacked the fire from the front as another crew went inside to begin an interior fire attack and simultaneous search. Firefighters had a quick knockdown on the fire and continued with overhaul. The residence is located at the top of a hill, further adding to the workload for CFD personnel. The cause of the fire is under investigation. It caused significant damage to the structure. Ladder 19, Squad 19, Quint 16, Engine 11, Engine 22, Ladder 7, Squad 7, Battalion 3, Battalion 2, and CFD Investigations responded.

Chattanooga Fire aided TN Forestry with a brush fire in Lookout Valley where several acres of land were burning in between Wauhatchie Pike and Lookout Creek in the Cummings Highway area. The CFD responded on Tuesday afternoon (11/14/23) and our firefighters remained at the site overnight into Wednesday (11/15/23) fighting the fire. It’s a wooded, steep area that was hard to access with personnel and equipment, but our crews and Forestry officials worked tirelessly at this location. The fire was not close to any homes and there was no structural endangerment. At 11:30 AM on Wednesday (11/15/23), Forestry released CFD companies. They continued conducting fire suppression activities throughout the day using helicopter water drops until the fire was out. Forestry cut a fire break around the burning area with heavy equipment for containment.

A woman was taken to the hospital Tuesday afternoon after handling mail, leading to a hazardous materials response by the Chattanooga Fire Department. At 4:22 PM on 11/14/23, several Blue Shift companies and the Special Operations Division responded to 5600 Brainerd Road to the offices of the TN Department of Human Services and the Children’s Services Department. A worker had taken envelopes out of a drop box and then passed out. When she regained consciousness, she indicated that her hands were tingling. She was transported to the hospital for further treatment. First responders evacuated the building and secured the area. Hazmat crews examined the drop box and tested all of the mail that was handled. No hazards were found.

The Quint 21 Red Shift crew had an incident where a home birth turned into a newborn CPR. This happened off Ziegler Road on Thursday 11/9/23. When the baby was born, she was not breathing. The midwife on scene began CPR and Q21 arrived and took over CPR. A pulse was restored by the time they arrived at the hospital. The last update the CFD received was that the baby was named Amelia and that she is receiving the best care in the NICU. Great work by Captain Joey Smith, Senior Firefighter Adam Waldrop, Senior Firefighter Pat O'Brien and Firefighter Dishaun Broughton, as well as Hamilton County EMS. The CFD sends well wishes to little Amelia and her family!