Captain Tim Waters
Chattanooga firefighters were busy early Wednesday morning with two fires that started at almost the same time, but in different parts of the city.
At
1:15 a.m., firefighters were dispatched to a vacant house fire in the 800 block of W. 38th Street. Captain Tim Waters with Quint 14 said there was heavy fire in the front half of the structure. The firefighters made their way inside the structure and found the inside of the house engulfed in flames.
Meanwhile, other firefighters entered through the rear of the structure and conducted a primary search, finding no one.
The flames were intense and firefighters had to spray water on an adjacent house to keep it from catching fire. The firefighters eventually got the blaze under control and no injuries were reported. The loss is estimated at $20,000. The house has been vacant for some time. The lead fire investigator said this fire was intentionally set. The investigation will continue.
At 1:16 a.m., firefighters were dispatched to a fire at 1123 Cranbrook Dr. Battalion Chief Don Bowman said the fire was in the kitchen and firefighters were able to extinguish the flames fairly quickly. An elderly woman, just four days shy of her 78th birthday, told firefighters that a smoke alarm woke her up. As she made her way out of the house, she sustained a laceration to her leg. The woman was transported by Hamilton County EMS to a local hospital. Her injuries were not life-threatening, but she was admitted to the hospital for treatment of her injuries.
The cause of the fire has been ruled accidental, most likely from an electrical malfunction. The loss is estimated at $65,000.
Battalion Chief Don Bowman