An early morning fire caused substantial damage to a two-story house in East Brainerd Friday.
The Chattanooga Fire Department received the alarm at 3:30 a.m. and responded to 8110 Mee Mee Road with four fire companies. Smoke and flames were shooting out the kitchen windows when the first firefighters arrived on the scene.
The fire managed to spread to the second floor before the firefighters were able to get the blaze under control.
The two residents in the house told firefighters that a smoke alarm alerted them to the fire. Still, the smoke was already so thick in the house that the two had to make their escape through their bedroom window. They were not injured.
Lt. Henry McElvain with the Fire Investigation Division said the cause of the fire is undetermined and under investigation. The loss was estimated at around $250,000.
Volunteers with the Red Cross also responded to the scene to provide assistance to the victims.