Yakima Shana Ingram
Yakima Shana Ingram, 28, has been charged with neglect from intoxication after a house fire Monday night. A neighbor said Ms. Ingram was seen drinking earlier and liquor and wine were found in the house.
Authorities said the fire late Monday night could have ended in tragedy for Ms. Ingram and her four-year-old daughter, but two things worked in their favor: a working smoke alarm and Chattanooga firefighters. The fire broke out in an apartment at 2188 Camden Oaks Dr. A neighbor heard a smoke alarm activate and called 911.
When the first firefighters arrived just before midnight, no smoke was visible. Captain Wadie Suttles with Engine 4 said they could not see anything through the windows and there was no sign of a fire. After considering their options, the decision was made to force their way inside. Captain Suttles said there was a moderate amount of smoke inside as they made their way upstairs. The firefighters found Ms. Ingram on her bed unresponsive, and the daughter in a fetal position and moaning in an adjacent bedroom. Her pet dog was on the bed with her, barking. Firefighters think the dog was barking in an effort to wake her up to the danger.
Chattanooga firefighters carried the two victims out and administered oxygen to them. Captain Suttles said both victims were alert and talking within minutes of being removed from the apartment. The victims were then handed off to medics with Hamilton County EMS, who in turn transported Ms. Ingram to Erlanger Hospital and the child to Children’s Hospital at Erlanger. The dog appeared to be okay and was left with neighbors.
Firefighters extinguished the fire in the kitchen and then ventilated the apartment. Captain Andrew Waters with the Fire Investigation Division ruled the cause of the fire accidental, from food being left unattended on the stove. The top right stove burner was left on.
Police found on a coffee table in the living room a half glass of what looked like wine, a 22-ounce bottle of Bud Ice with one ounce still in it, and an empty bottle of mixed tall malt liquor. On an end table was an empty 1.75 liter bottle of Ciroc pineapple liquor.
Police saw in Ms. Ingram's bedroom an empty shot glass that still had some liquid on it lying at the foot of her bed.
A neighbor said she was with Ingram earlier that day and saw her drinking.