Two men escaped a burning house on Windsor Court on the afternoon of Christmas Day.
Chattanooga firefighters responded to the fire at 3322 Windsor Court around 5 p.m.
Authur Dinsmore told firefighters that he was preparing to cook a meal by heating up some grease on the stove, but left the kitchen to do something else. When he returned to the kitchen, the pan of grease was on fire and spreading on the stove.
Mr. Dinsmore tried to put the fire out, but was unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, Ronald Green, who lived in a rented part of the house, noticed smoke coming into his apartment and went to investigate. Mr. Green said he had to break through a window to get inside the house, where he found Mr. Dinsmore still trying to put the fire out. Mr. Green apparently convinced Mr. Dinsmore to leave the smoke-filled house.
By then, Chattanooga firefighters were arriving on the scene. Captain Scott Davis said the firefighters quickly attacked the fire inside the house and managed to contain most of the fire damage to the kitchen area. The rest of the house had smoke and water damage.
The loss was estimated at around $25,000. The cause of the fire was listed as accidental, due to the pan of grease being left unattended on the stove.
Captain Davis said firefighters treated Mr. Green for a laceration to the arm that he sustained when breaking through the window. Mr. Dinsmore was transported to Parkridge Hospital by Hamilton County EMS for smoke inhalation. Captain Davis said Mr. Dinsmore's injuries were not thought to be life-threatening. The Red Cross was called in to check on the two victims and provide an alternate place to stay if needed.