photo by Brent McDonald (NewsChannel 9)
photo by Brent McDonald (NewsChannel 9)
photo by Brent McDonald (NewsChannel 9)
When fire broke out at a residence located at 4927 Pattentown Road in Ooltewah around 3:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon, dispatchers at 911 Communications were not sure if the property was located in the city or county, so the Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department and the Chattanooga Fire Department were both dispatched.
Tri-Com sent four engines and one ladder truck and arrived first. Chattanooga firefighters with Quint 7 and Squad 7 arrived a short time later.
Tri-Com Battalion Chief Steve Wright said the house was about 25 percent involved in flames when his firefighters arrived, but shortly after that, the front two rooms “flashed over” and the fire spread rapidly. Chief Wright said firefighters with Tri-Com and Chattanooga worked together and got the blaze under control in roughly 15 minutes. No injuries were reported. Chief Wright estimated the loss at $75,000 for the building and its contents.
Captain Andrew Waters with the Fire Investigation Division is still gathering details on the incident, but he has already ruled the cause of the fire as accidental, from reckless burning. Captain Waters said a woman who lived there was burning some clothes in a garbage can on the front porch. The fire quickly grew out of control and spread to the rest of the house. The investigation will continue.
Chattanooga Police, Hamilton County EMS and EPB also provided assistance.