News Releases

In the early hours of Easter Sunday, the Chattanooga Fire Department responded to Buzzi Unicem’s Signal Mountain Concrete Plant on Suck Creek Road on another hydraulic oil fire. There were no injuries. Crews were at the same location on March 25th for a similar incident. Quint 17, Quint 1, Ladder 1, Squad 1, Engine 12, Quint 14, Quint 16, Battalion 3 and Battalion 1 (Green Shift) responded.

The Chattanooga Fire Department worked a second-alarm commercial fire at the corner of E 13th Street and S Holtzclaw Avenue at a 100-year old former mattress factory that was undergoing renovations. Blue Shift companies could see flames as they were responding around 3 AM Saturday. They found a fully involved two-story blaze. The structure, located next to the Chattanooga National Cemetery, was burning from one end to the other. The former warehouse was in the process of being converted into condos. Crews set up aerial operations to extinguish the flames. It was a defensive attack because of the size of the fire and the building. Construction equipment on the scene was protected. Firefighters also put out a fire at an adjacent structure and worked to keep flames from spreading any further. There were no injuries. The cause of the fire will be under investigation. The building was a total loss and was torn down. The remaining walls were unsafe due to fire damage. Firefighters went through the rubble to make sure everything was totally extinguished. Mutual Aid departments from across the area worked at our fire halls and helped with a tractor trailer fire in East Lake and other calls this morning. Thanks to them.

Responding units and agencies include: Quint 1, Ladder 1, Squad 1, Engine 5, Ladder 5, Engine 9, Quint 14, Engine 4, Engine 12, Squad 13, Ladder 13, Engine 15, Squad 20, Battalion 1, Battalion 2, HCEMS, Chattanooga Hamilton County Rescue’s Support Services, CFD Investigations, CFD Supply, EPB, CPD, Hamilton County 911’s Incident Dispatch Unit.

The Chattanooga Fire Department has an update on the cause of the three-alarm fire at Patten Towers over the weekend. According to investigators, a resident in a seventh floor apartment was smoking in bed. The resident said he fell asleep and when he woke up, his bed was on fire. He tried to do what he could to put the fire out, but the flames started to spread to the rest of his apartment. He suffered light smoke inhalation and was transported to the hospital. This launched a huge response from our department and crews successfully stopped the fire from making its way to other apartments and floors in the high rise building. The firefighters who sustained burns on Saturday were treated and they’re doing well. Thanks to all who have asked about them. The total number of displaced residents is nearly 200, divided among several hotel properties in the region, some of which are changing today as the city works to find the most suitable solution for each individual. Photo from Lea Carter

The Chattanooga Fire Department conducted a massive response to The Patten Apartment Homes Saturday as crews fought a third alarm high rise fire. The call went out at 10:36 AM to the apartments on E 11th Street in the heart of Downtown Chattanooga. Nearly every company working for the CFD today (Green Shift) responded to the scene or staged, ready to respond to help with manpower. Off-duty members of the department came in, including the command staff, to assist and many of our Mutual Aid partners filled in at our fire halls. 

The fire was in an apartment on the 7th floor. Firefighters had a fast knockdown on it and then dealt with hot spots and smoke throughout the building. It was a tremendous amount of work getting tools and resources upstairs and firefighters also helped with evacuations. A number of residents are non-ambulatory and needed to be carried out of the building. The divisions worked effectively and efficiently on the scene and the fire was out at 11:44 AM. Firefighters then checked every single apartment for extension and went about a huge overhaul process. Floors 7, 8, and 9 were severely impacted by the fire, but the entire building needed to be evacuated due to damage (including smoke and water), impacting all 106 residents. The American Red Cross is assisting them now. One resident was transported to the hospital with smoke inhalation. Three firefighters were treated on the scene for minor burns. 

Thank you to the City of Chattanooga’s leadership who assisted on the scene as well as CARTA for providing buses for residents. Along with the many members of CFD who worked this incident, other agencies included: CPD, Hamilton County EMS, Hamilton County 911’s Incident Dispatch Unit and Chattanooga Hamilton County Rescue’s Rehab Truck Response. Fire departments from across the region have been at our fire halls helping to respond to calls and we very much appreciate the support we receive from Mutual Aid. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The city is working in partnership with the American Red Cross and property owner to make sure the residents are taken of following the Patten Towers fire. They are being provided shelter and meals.