Lt. Paul Chapin with Ladder 5 attempted to provide oxygen and water to the dog, which was suffering from burns and smoke inhalation, but it was too combative. The dog was later handed off to personnel with the McKamey Animal Center.
photo by Bruce Garner
Chattanooga Firefighters were not able to save the building on Line Street but worked quickly to prevent dense brush from spreading the fire to area homes. The narrow street required pumper trucks to bring pressured water up the steep terrain.
photo by Deb Montgomery
Chattanooga fire investigators are trying to figure out what started a house fire Sunday afternoon that left two dogs seriously injured on Line Street.
The fire at 1018 Line Street displaced three adults. Volunteers with the American Red Cross of Southeast Tennessee were called to assist the family with essentials, such as a temporary place to stay and help with food, clothing and medicine. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The Chattanooga Fire Department received the alarm at 2:20 p.m. and responded with five fire companies. Battalion Chief Rick Boatwright said smoke and flames were visible when the first firefighters arrived. As the firefighters pulled hand-held hoselines to make an interior attack, their efforts were hampered by a lot of debris and other materials that kept them from getting around in the house. Chief Boatwright also said the house appears to have been renovated several times, which created false ceilings, walls and other hidden spaces that made it difficult for the firefighters to get to the fire.
No people were found inside the structure. However, firefighters found two dogs fairly quickly. One was chained up outside in the front yard, and another was inside the house. As a firefighter carried the dog out, it was showing symptoms of smoke inhalation, so firefighters used a pet rescue mask to administer oxygen to it. The dog’s condition improved and it was handed off to personnel with McKamey Animal Center. A few minutes later, a third dog was found in an attached outbuilding. Unfortunately, it was suffering from significant burns and smoke inhalation. Firefighters attempted to administer oxygen to the dog, but it was too combative and was handed off to McKamey Animal Center personnel.
The house was considered a loss. Chief Boatwright said the remaining walls and debris presented a hazard to the surrounding neighborhood, so a track-hoe with city public works was going to be called in to demolish the rest of the house.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Chattanooga Police, Hamilton County EMS, EPB and Chattanooga-Hamilton County Rescue also provided assistance.
See video by Bruce Garner here and here.