Fire caused considerable damage to a duplex in the Highland Park community early Wednesday afternoon.
Leyland Rucker, 27, who was home at the time, said he didn't know his home was on fire until someone knocked on his door and told him he needed to get out. His roommate was away at the time, and the two residents who lived in the other side of the duplex were also not home when the fire was discovered. No injuries were reported.
The Chattanooga Fire Department received the alarm at 12:46 p.m. and responded with five fire companies to 2106 Duncan Ave. Battalion Chief Mike Knox said a lot of smoke and fire was showing on one side of the duplex when the first firefighters arrived on the scene. The firefighters were initially told by neighbors that someone was still inside the burning structure, but no one was found after a thorough search. The firefighters extinguished the fire fairly quickly, but the "A" side of the duplex had substantial fire damage. Chief Knox said the "B" side of the duplex had mostly smoke and water damage.
Senior Firefighter Henry McElvain with the Fire Investigation Division said the cause of the fire appears to be accidental, most likely from an overloaded electrical circuit. The dollar loss was estimated at around $26,000. The Red Cross was called in to provide assistance to the victims.
Fire scene
- Photo2 by Bruce Garner