A woman was sent to a local hospital early Thursday morning after fire broke out in her Brainerd apartment. The Chattanooga Fire Department received the alarm at 3:31 a.m. and responded to Rustic Village Apartments at 510 Central Drive with six fire companies.
Battalion Chief Ben Biggs said the firefighters were able to contain the fire damage to the area around the stove in the kitchen, though the rest of the apartment had smoke damage. The rest of the building was evacuated until the firefighters knew for sure that the fire was out.
Teresa Jones, 58, told firefighters that she had been cooking some fries earlier and was in another room when she heard a smoke alarm activate.
Ms. Jones got out of the apartment safely, but reportedly went back in the apartment on more than one occasion before firefighters arrived to get her pet dog. Chief Biggs said the dog was uninjured, but Ms. Jones appeared to be suffering from smoke inhalation.
Paramedics with Hamilton County EMS transported Ms. Jones to Memorial Hospital, where she was treated for smoke inhalation and released. No other injuries were reported.
Captain Lesley Morgan with the Fire Investigation Division said the fire appears to have started on the stove. The cause of the fire will be listed as accidental.