A house on Hunter Avenue was destroyed by fire Saturday afternoon.
At 3:28 p.m., an automatic fire alarm notified 911 dispatchers reporting a possible fire at 6425 Hunter Road (Highway 58 area).
The Highway 58 Volunteer Fire Department responded and arrived on the scene reporting heavy smoke coming from the eaves of the house and fire pouring out the back bedroom window. Firefighters conducted an interior attack until the fire vented, causing the fire to spread rapidly throughout the house. Firefighters exited the house and started a defensive attack to control the fire.
Since the temperatures were extremely hot, the Highway 58 VFD requested a mutual aid response for additional manpower and apparatus. Forty firefighters from the Dallas Bay VFD, Red Bank Fire Department, Tri-Community VFD, East Ridge Fire Department, Bradley County Fire Rescue, Catoosa County Fire Department and Cleveland Fire Department responded to the fire scene. Special Tactics and Rescue Services (STARS) was also requested to respond with an ATV to shuttle firefighters up the half-mile driveway. Highway 58 fire officials reported since there was not a nearby hydrant, they had to conduct a water shuttle operation which allows water tender apparatus to transport additional water to the scene to extinguish the fire.
Fire officials also reported the homeowner was not home but her daughter, 50, was home.
The fire started in the bedroom and fire officials will request that the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office investigate the cause of the fire. Damages are a total loss and valued at $250,000. No injuries were reported.