photo by Battalion Chief Rick Boatwright
Fire investigators are trying to determine how a fire started early Friday morning at the Brainerd Trophy Shop. An employee of the shop told firefighters that early Friday morning, he checked the shop's security cameras from his home in Hixson. When he noticed the camera went offline, he drove to the shop to check and that is when he discovered the business was on fire.
The Chattanooga Fire Department received the alarm at
4:16 a.m. and responded to 3462 Brainerd Road with six fire companies.
Battalion Chief Rick Boatwright said a large portion of the structure was engulfed in flames when the first firefighters arrived. It took the firefighters roughly 20 minutes to get the blaze under control. No injuries were reported.
Chief Boatwright said the loss has been estimated at $300,000 for the building and its contents. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Brainerd Road was closed during the firefighting operation on this incident. The water runoff froze over on the road, so a salt truck with Public Works was requested. Chattanooga Police and Hamilton County EMS also provided assistance.