Fire caused considerable damage to a house at 3703 Wauchula Street this morning.
The Chattanooga Fire Department received the call at 8:50 a.m. and responded with four fire companies. Battalion Chief Winston Shields said a couple of cars were in the driveway, so there was some initial concern that someone might still be inside the burning structure. The house was searched several times, but no one was found. Before firefighters arrived, a neighbor checked to see if anyone was in the house and rescued the family's pet dog.
The firefighters eventually got the blaze under control, but the damage was substantial.
Chief Shields later found out that the family was in Nashville, but would return home immediately after learning of the fire.
The cause of the fire appears to be accidental in nature. Lt. Anthony Moore with the Fire Investigation Division said the fire started in a bedroom and appears to be electrical in nature. No injuries were reported.
The family left Nashville this morning to return to their fire-damaged home. Lt. Moore estimated the loss at $45,000. Volunteers with the American Red Cross were called in to provide assistance to the family. Chattanooga police, Hamilton County EMS and Chattanooga-Hamilton County Rescue also provided assistance at the scene.