Cigarette Causes Apartment Fire

The Chattanooga Fire Department received the alarm at 5:06 a.m. and responded with six fire companies to 6574 E. Brainerd Road.

All of the residents were out of the apartment building, thanks in part to an off-duty Chattanooga firefighter. Captain Wadie Suttles, who lives in that apartment complex, went door-to-door, alerting the residents to the fire.

Captain Edward Jackson with Quint 8 said heavy smoke was showing from an apartment unit on the second floor. Captain Jackson said firefighters entered the apartment and quickly extinguished the fire, containing the fire damage to the one unit. No injuries were reported. When firefighters were able to confirm that the fire was completely out in the affected unit, and that the air quality was back to normal, the residents were allowed to return to their apartment units.

The woman in the apartment where the fire started told firefighters that she had fallen asleep smoking in bed. The cause of the fire will be ruled accidental.