Chattanooga firefighters responded to two fires on Sunday night.
Firefighters were dispatched to a residential structure fire around 6 p.m. at 618 Gillespie Road. Four fire companies arrived and found heavy smoke and fire coming from the second floor. Battalion Chief Rick Boatwright said the firefighters made an aggressive interior attack and found most of the fire on the second floor. The fire was contained to the second floor, with smoke and water damage to the rest of the structure. The loss was estimated at $20,000.
The residents were not home at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Volunteers with the American Red Cross of Southeast Tennessee were called in to provide assistance to the family. Chattanooga Police, Hamilton County EMS and EPB also provided assistance.
Captain Andrew Waters with the Fire Investigation Division said that arson is suspected in this fire. The investigation will continue.
Firefighters also responded to an apartment fire around 9:30 p.m. at 7249 East Brainerd Road. When the first of six fire companies arrived, they found that the fire on a back porch had been extinguished with a garden hose by a neighbor. No injuries were reported. Chief Boatwright said the residents were not home at the time of the fire. Damages were estimated at $2,500. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Captain Waters said the cause of the fire is being ruled accidental, from improperly discarded cigarette butts. Captain Waters said the resident in the apartment where the fire started was putting her discarded cigarette butts in a cardboard box on the patio. Evidently one of the butts was not extinguished and a fire broke out. An alert neighbor spotted the fire and put it out with pans of water and a garden hose. Captain Waters said if the fire had broken out a few hours later when most people were asleep, the resulting fire could have ended in tragedy. “You should always use a real ashtray if you smoke,” said Captain Waters, “and the best way to make sure the butts are completely out is to soak them in water.”