A two-alarm apartment fire that ripped through eight units at the Ashland Gardens Apartment complex in Red Bank last Tuesday morning was started at a heating unit, officials said.
Red Bank Fire Department Fire Marshall J.B. Burnette said the heater was in Apt. 309.
At 12:45 a.m. a 9-1-1 call was made reporting heavy smoke and fire at the Ashland Gardens Apartments. Red Bank Fire Department responded and was on the scene within minutes reporting fire coming through the roof on the top floor of a four-story apartment complex.
Red Bank firefighters immediately conducted a search and rescue operation throughout the eight units that were involved with heavy smoke and fire. Once all residents were accounted for, fire personnel went to a “defensive” attack to control the fire from spreading to the other eight units that were attached to the building.
Due to the significant amount of fire, Chief Mark Matthews requested a mutual aid response for additional manpower and fire apparatus. The East Ridge Fire Department, Soddy-Daisy Fire Department, Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department, Walden’s Ridge Emergency Services, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Rescue, Hamilton County EMS, Highway 58 Volunteer Fire Department, Rossville Fire Department responded to the scene for mutual aid. Over 60 emergency service personnel were on the scene to assist the Red Bank Fire Department.
Eight families were displaced from their apartments. No injuries were reported.