Three people were taken to the hospital after suffering smoke inhalation when a fire broke out at the Superior Creek Lodge Motel in East Ridge shortly after noon Wednesday.
At approximately 12:15 p.m., East Ridge Fire/Rescue and East Ridge Police responded to the motel at 1401 N. Mack Smith Road on a reported room on fire. Emergency crews arrived in four minutes to find heavy smoke on the second floor of the B building.
Firefighters began an interior attack of the fire in a room on the second floor, while other firefighters worked to ensure the safe evacuation of any occupants still inside the building.
Some individuals on the second and third floor required assistance in evacuation from firefighter due to heavy smoke in the hallway.
The fire was brought under control in just 17 minutes after crews arrived while secondary searches were being conducted to ensure the building was empty of all civilians.
The incident commander requested a mutual aid response for extra fire units to assist and to respond to other calls city wide. Responding on the mutual aid alarm were Rossville, Catoosa County, Fort Oglethorpe, and Walker County fire departments.
Lifeguard EMS responded with three ambulances. EMS transported a 44-year-old woman, a 10-year-old boy and a 38-year-old man to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.
Officers from East Ridge Animal Control also responded to the scene to assist residence in the retrieval of many domestic pets that were left inside during the evacuation.
The exact cause and point of origin of the fire is under investigation at this time by East Ridge Fire/Arson Investigators.
Damage is estimated to be approximately $15,000.
Units responding to the fire include East Ridge Engine 1, Engine 2, Squad 1, Quint 3, Rescue 6, Support 1, and Support 2, Rescue 1, and Rescue 2. Mutual aid units include Rossville Engine 3, Fort Oglethorpe Engine 10, Catoosa County Engine 3, and Walker County Air 7.