No one was injured in a house fire Saturday night, thanks in part to two youths who happened to be walking by.
Michelle McCaleb, 16, and her brother Shayne, 12, were walking home from a nearby video store shortly after 11 p.m. when they noticed fire on the front porch of a house at 6415 Edgmon Drive. They ran to the house, alerted the family inside, and attempted to put the fire out themselves.
The three adults in the house had no idea their house was on fire, but they got out safely.
Chattanooga firefighters received the alarm at 11:13 p.m. and responded with several fire companies. Captain Ken Moses said the firefighters were able to get the fire out quickly, before the flames could get inside the house and cause much more damage.
"The damage could have been a lot worse if those kids had not been involved," said Captain Moses. "They saw the fire and they took action. Their parents should be proud of them." No injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire appears to be accidental. Captain Moses said the fire appears to have originated from a flower pot that was used as an ash tray on the front porch. The loss was estimated at around $1,500.