Flames Tear Through Chattanooga Landmark

The Chattanooga Fire Department worked a three-alarm fire at a local landmark. Companies were called to the old Highland Park Baptist Church Friday night (6/10/22) at 7:13 PM after a passerby spotted smoke and notified 911. The property is now part of the Redemption to the Nations Church campus. It is located at the corner of Union Ave and South Orchard Knob Avenue. Crews from Station 5 saw the smoke from the fire hall as they were leaving and found heavy, black smoke coming from all four sides of the building, as well as the roof, on arrival. A second and then third alarm was called due to the conditions and size of the structure, bringing additional personnel to the scene. Firefighters made entry multiple times to locate the fire and flames were found in several locations between the first and third floor. Officials from the church advised that the vacant building was structurally unsafe. At that time, everyone was evacuated and defensive firefighting operations got underway. Ladder trucks were placed on all sides of the building for elevated master streams to contain the fire to the building of origin and protect adjacent structures. Twenty one of the CFD’s 26 companies have been on this scene- more than 100 personnel. The cause of this blaze will be under investigation. A “shelter in place” was issued for residents living within five blocks of 1906 Bailey Avenue due to the smoke hazard caused by the fire. They were asked to stay inside and close all of their windows and doors. By 2 AM Saturday morning, the fire was contained and the “shelter in place” was lifted. The Phillips Chapel and Chauncey-Goode Auditorium were heavily damaged and parts of the structures were torn down so that firefighters could put out flames in multiple locations on multiple floors. We want to thank our Tri-State Mutual Aid Association partners from across the region for filling in at our fire halls and answering calls while the CFD worked this major incident. There are no known injuries at this time. In addition to our Blue Shift personnel on the scene and members of our command staff, the following agencies also responded: Hamilton County 911’s Incident Dispatch Unit, Hamilton County EMS, CPD, Public Works, Tennessee American Water, CFD’s Fleet Division, CFD’s Investigations Division, CFD Special Operations, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Rescue’s Rehab Unit, Chattanooga Land Development Office, city building inspectors and the Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management.

Saturday update:

The fire at the old Highland Park Baptist Church is out. The CFD is still on the scene working with contractors to make sure that impacted areas and remaining walls are secure and stable to protect the public’s safety. Roads immediately surrounding the church will remain closed for the time being. The CFD’s Investigations Division, ATF and TBI are all involved in the ongoing investigation into the cause of the fire. The church and contractors have indicated that they are going to do what they can to save the bell tower and stained glass windows.