Lt. Chadd Nichols
Chattanooga firefighters responded to two working structure fires at roughly the same time.
At
12:29 p.m., fire broke out in a single-story house at 2201 Rawlings Street. Battalion Chief Carlos Hampton said smoke and flames were visible coming from two sides of the house. Captain Wadie Suttles with Engine 4 said it took roughly 20 minutes to get the fire under control.
No injuries were reported.
A resident of the rental property told firefighters that he smelled incense shortly before a smoke alarm activated. When he went to investigate, one of the bedrooms was engulfed in flames. Captain Suttles said the fire caused substantial damage to the house, with the loss estimated at $59,000. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Two adults and two children were displaced by the fire. Volunteers with the American Red Cross of Southeast Tennessee were called in to provide assistance to the victims.
The other fire was occurring at the same time was at 8143 E. Brainerd Road.