A Chattanooga fire investigator has determined the likely cause of Tuesday’s house fire at 37 Agnes Ave.
Lt. Henry McElvain with the Fire Investigation Division said the residents were in the process of moving into the house and someone had placed boxes in front of a wall heater in the bathroom. Lt. McElvain believes it was cool enough for the wall heater to cycle on, and after the boxes got hot enough, a fire broke out. No one was in the home at the time, but a neighbor noticed smoke coming from the house and called 911.
Chattanooga firefighters were able to contain the blaze to the bathroom, but the rest of the house sustained some smoke and water damage. The loss was estimated at $45,000.
Volunteers with the American Red Cross of Southeast Tennessee were called in to provide assistance to the victims. How many people lived in the house is unknown.
Though it is early in the season to be offering this safety warning, residents should be aware of the potential dangers of portable heaters and wall heaters. “Some of those heaters don’t have on/off switches,” said Lt. McElvain. “They just have a knob that goes from low to high. Even now, the temperature is dropping into the 50s overnight, and that may be enough for heaters to cycle on.” McElvain said it’s important to remember the three foot rule when heaters are involved. “Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heaters,” he said.
Chattanooga police and Hamilton County EMS also provided assistance.