photo by Battalion Chief Don Bowman
Chattanooga firefighters responded to a house fire shortly after 9 p.m. Sunday, with reports that someone might still be inside. When the first firefighters arrived on the scene at 2603 7th Ave., heavy smoke and fire was visible.
Battalion Chief Lesley Morgan said the firefighters initially tried to force their way in through the front door, but could not get in.
So the firefighters went around the side of the small house and forced their way in through a side window. Once inside, the firefighters conducted a primary search and found an adult male toward the rear of the house. The firefighters carried the victim to another window and handed him off to other firefighters.
The victim was rushed to Erlanger Hospital by Hamilton County EMS and then flown overnight to the burn unit at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville. Firefighters said the victim had serious injuries. A pet dog also perished in the blaze.
Fire investigators believe the fire started on the front porch, but what started the blaze remains undetermined. The dollar loss was estimated at $20,000. Chattanooga police and EPB also provided valuable assistance on the scene.
photo by Bruce Garner