CFD, CPD Rescue Residents From Burning Apt. Building

On June 30, multiple people were injured in an apartment fire, prompting rescues by Chattanooga firefighters and police officers.

It happened at the Rustic Village North Apartments on Sunflower Lane, not far off Highway 58. When Quint 6 arrived at the apartment complex, smoke and flames were visible from one of the buildings and residents were trapped on balconies. A second alarm was called to bring additional fire companies to the scene.

Responding Chattanooga police officers and firefighters grabbed ladders to get five people down from balconies. Good Samaritans pulled another injured man out of the burning building from the ground floor.

A total of six people were transported to the hospital.

Firefighters then started searching the building as there were reports of possible entrapment. They did not find anyone trapped inside. They aggressively attacked the fire and performed a vertical ventilation, cutting holes in the roof to let out heat and smoke inside the structure in order to improve firefighting conditions.

Flames were on both floors of the building and the attic. Crews kept battling the fire. It was deemed under control an hour later at 3:30 PM.

Responding units: Squads 7, 13 and 19; Quints 6, 8, 10, 19; Engines 4, 15; Hamilton County EMS; Mutual aid filling our fire halls for continued coverage; CPD; EPB; IDU from Hamilton County 911; Chattanooga-Hamilton County Rescue Support Services.

Several apartments sustained significant damage. Two dogs were also rescued.

Those in command of the response commended the quick actions and hard work of everyone on the scene who worked to save lives and property.

“Everybody did a great job. I can’t commend these police officers and firefighters enough. They did tremendous work out here,” said Battalion Chief David Thompson Jr., incident commander.

The cause of the apartment fire is undetermined and remains under investigation.

The man who was pulled out of the burning building by citizens was in critical condition at last check. He suffered smoke inhalation. His apartment was where the fire originated.

Other residents were treated and released from the hospital with minor injuries.

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