Chattanooga fire investigators are trying to figure out what started a fire in a duplex on Tuesday night. It was the third significant structure fire for the day in Chattanooga. This one started shortly after 8 p.m. at 900 Reads Lake Road.
When the first Chattanooga firefighters arrived on the scene, smoke and flames were pouring out the duplex's second-story window. There were initial reports that someone might still be inside the burning structure, but no one was found.
The firefighters managed to contain the fire damage to the second floor, but the flames burned through the roof, causing substantial damage to the structure.
An estimate on the dollar loss was not available.
Neighbors told firefighters that sparks could be seen on some power lines from a utility pole leading to the duplex. Lt. Henry McElvain with the Fire Investigation Division is looking into the possibility of an electrical malfunction, though other causes for the fire have not yet been ruled out.