No injuries were reported in connection with an early morning fire Saturday at a convenience store in Alton Park.
The Chattanooga Fire Department received the alarm at 12:30 a.m. and responded with six fire companies to the Southland Variety Store at 8 E. 38th St.
Lieutenant Jeffrey Rorex with Squad 4 said flames were visible on one side of the building when firefighters arrived on the scene. The store was unoccupied, so the firefighters had to force their way inside to get to the fire.
Lt. Rorex said a second alarm response was requested, but firefighters with Engine 9 and Squad 4 quickly got the flames under control, containing the fire damage to about 20% of the building.
The second alarm fire companies were later sent back to their stations.
While most of the building was spared, Lt. Rorex said all of the store's contents, mostly food items, were destroyed. The loss was estimated at around $100,000.
Lt. Rorex said the building had a sprinkler system, but it was not operable.
Captain Lesley Morgan with the Fire Investigation Division said the cause of the fire appears to be accidental, most likely from an electrical malfunction.
Chattanooga Police and Hamilton County EMS also provided assistance on the scene.