No injuries were reported in connection with a fire early Tuesday morning at a Taco Bell restaurant.
The Chattanooga Fire Department received the alarm at 4:53 a.m. and responded to 4786 Highway 58 with six fire companies. Battalion Chief Ben Biggs said flames were clearly visible as firefighters drove their apparatus to the scene.
Upon arrival, the firefighters discovered a storage building behind the restaurant was completely engulfed in flames.
Chief Biggs said the storage building was located just a few feet away from the restaurant, and was beginning to penetrate the walk-in freezer in the main building. The firefighters worked quickly to knock out the fire and save the restaurant.
The storage building and all of its contents were considered a total loss. A manager with the restaurant estimated the dollar loss at around $50,000.
Cpt. Lesley Morgan with the Fire Investigation Division said the cause of the fire appears to be accidental in nature, though what exactly sparked the blaze remains undetermined.