Firefighters Battle Early Morning House Fire

Chattanooga firefighters were busy overnight battling a large structure fire on the south side of Chattanooga. The Chattanooga Fire Department received the alarm at 5:12 a.m. and responded to 4212 Fagan Street with four fire companies. Captain Randy Steele, the incident commander, said a significant amount of flames were visible when the first firefighters arrived on the scene, and they were quickly spreading up into the attic. Seeing the magnitude of the fire, Captain Steele called for two additional fire companies to bring in extra manpower.

Captain Steele said their efforts were hampered by a live power line that had detached from the house and was stretched out across the front yard, popping and cracking. The firefighters had to avoid the area until a technician with EPB arrived to shut the power down to that line.

As additional fire companies arrived on the scene, the firefighters attempted an interior attack, but when it looked like the roof was about to cave in, Captain Steele ordered the firefighters out of the house. It took the firefighters more than half an hour to get the blaze under control. The house was reportedly unoccupied at the time of the fire. No injuries were reported.

Captain Steele said the house appeared to be in the process of being renovated. An estimate on the dollar loss was not available, but the house was considered a loss. The cause of the fire is under investigation.