Funeral Service Is Monday For Young Highway 58 Firefighter

Several Other Firefighters Were Injured On Gamble Road

Friday, January 26, 2007
Shane Daughetee
Shane Daughetee

Funeral services will be Monday afternoon for a young Highway 58 Volunteer Fire Department firefighter who died in a house fire early Friday morning.

Visitation will be Sunday from 2-9 p.m. at Bayside Baptist Church and Monday from 10 a.m. until the time of the funeral at 1 p.m. for 24-year-old Shane Daughetee.

Following the service, the funeral procession will go from Career Lane to Snow Hill Road.

Burial will be at the New McDonald East View Cemetery.

Several other firefighters were injured in the blaze.

Firefighter Daughetee was trying to rescue a family, including the parents and child, when he fell into a basement area. He had led a group of firefighters in the house to check on the family.

Other firefighters tried to rescue him, and one grabbed his airpack, but was not able to hold on. A ladder was lowered to him, but firefighters had to retreat when the roof started to collapse. It turned out, the family had already gotten out safely.

The fire was at a house on Gamble Road off Highway 58 about 20 miles north of Highway 153.

The 5,000-square-foot, $500,000 house was a total loss.

Officials said the homeowner made a 9-1-1 call at 12:30 a.m. reporting heavy smoke and fire at the 7697 Gamble Road address.

The Highway 58 Volunteer Fire Department responded and arrived on the scene confirming a fully involved house fire. The firefighters conducted an immediate search and rescue operation inside the home.

Amy Maxwell of Hamilton County Emergency Management said firefighter Daughetee fell through the floor and into the basement. She said, "An immediate rescue attempt was made and, in the course of this attempt, the rest of the structure collapsed, barring further attempts."

Highway 58 VFD requested a mutual aid response for additional resources and manpower. Bradley County Fire and Rescue, East Ridge Fire Department, Tri-Community VFD, responded to the scene. Red Bank Fire Department, Dallas Bay VFD, Walker County Fire Department, Catoosa County Fire Department, and Fort Oglethorpe Fire Department were on stand-by to cover Hamilton County.

Hamilton County EMS was on the scene and treated four firefighters who sustained minor burn injuries.

According to the homeowners, Randy and Terri Roark, they awoke to a popping sound and found the basement full of smoke and fire. They evacuated the home with their daughter and called 9-1-1. The cause of the fire is undetermined and will be under investigation by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department.

Shane Daughetee was an active firefighter with Highway 58 VFD for seven years. Just last month, he was recently awarded “Firefighter of the Year.”

This is the first firefighter fatality for the Highway 58 Volunteer Fire Department. This is the third firefighter fatality in Hamilton County. Tri-Community VFD has two firefighter fatalities - in 1952 and 1979.

Shane Daughetee had been married for three years.

County Mayor Claude Ramsey said, “My thoughts and prayers are with the wife and parents of Shane Daughetee, the Highway 58 volunteer firefighter who died early this morning while valiantly battling a Gamble Road house fire that a family of three safely fled.

"This young volunteer’s sacrifice is a reminder of the constant dangers our firefighters, deputies, EMS and first responders shoulder every day as they go about their job of protecting and saving the residents of Hamilton County.

"I am sure I join many other members of our county who send their condolences to the Daughetee family on this very sad day.

"Hamilton County honored this brave man one month ago with the Highway 58 Volunteer Fire Department’s 2006 Firefighter of the Year Award.

"I also want to say I am relieved the three firefighters who were injured after rushing to help the 24-year-old volunteer did not suffer serious injuries.”

Chattanooga Fire Chief Wendell Rowe said, "We are grieving over the loss of our fallen brother. This tragic event serves as a reality check and reminds us of how dangerous the fire profession can be.

"The Chattanooga Fire Department extends its deepest sympathies to the family of Shane Daughetee, and our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone associated with the Highway 58 Volunteer Fire Department."


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