Fire destroyed a house in the Glenwood community late Wednesday afternoon.
The Chattanooga Fire Department received the alarm at 5:23 p.m. and responded to 2517 Chamberlain Ave. with several fire companies.
Lieutenant Tony Mills with Engine 5 said the front porch on the house was fully engulfed in flames when his company arrived on the scene. While his firefighters attacked the fire on the porch, other arriving firefighters made their way inside the house to make an interior attack. But the flames had extended into the attic, and when the roof showed signs of buckling, Battalion Chief Winston Shields ordered the firefighters out of the house for their own safety.
From that point, Chattanooga firefighters operated in a defensive mode, working to contain the fire from the outside and keeping the flames from damaging neighboring houses.
Firefighters remained on the scene working to get the fire completely out.
The owner of the property, Johnny Johnson, was the only one home when the fire was discovered. His son lives with him, but he was away at the time. No injuries were reported.
Volunteers with the American Red Cross were called in to provide assistance to Mr. Johnson and his son.
Chief Shields requested a track hoe from Public Works that would be used to clear away piled up debris, which will enable the firefighters to more easily get to hidden hot spots.
Captain Craig Haney with the Fire Investigation Division said the cause of the fire appears to be accidental, most likely from an electrical malfunction. The house was considered a total loss, with an estimated value at around $75,000.