posted August 19, 2007
Chattanooga firefighters had to deal with three blazes on Saturday night and early Sunday morning.
In the first, Saturday night at the movies was abruptly interrupted for about 1,000 movie-goers when a cardboard movie promotional display was set ablaze. The incident occurred shortly before 9 p.m. at the Carmike Cinemas Northgate 14 near Northgate Mall.
Thad Morton, city manager with Carmike Cinemas, said he was near the front lobby when he heard a hissing sound. As he went to investigate, he heard a woman yell that there was a fire in the hallway. Mr. Morton immediately activated a pull alarm, which automatically stopped all of the movie projectors and turned the lights on. The staff then immediately fanned out throughout the complex and instructed all of the movie patrons to evacuate the building immediately.
A couple of off-duty Chattanooga police officers and a couple of off-duty firefighters happened to be in attendance at the time and they provided assistance with the evacuation. Mr. Morton said the evacuation was accomplished in three to four minutes.
Chattanooga firefighters with six fire companies arrived on the scene. Captain Rusty Rymer with Squad 2 said the heat from the burning cardboard activated the sprinkler system, which effectively put the fire out. The hallway was smoked up for a time, but no injuries were reported. Captain Rymer said there was some limited fire damage and water damage from the sprinkler system.
Todd Coffman, the general manager of the complex, said the staff would assess the damage overnight before making a decision on whether or not the theater would be able to open for business on Sunday. Mr. Coffman said everyone who had to evacuate last night can get a full refund if they bring in their ticket stubs.
Lieutenant Henry McElvain with the Fire Investigation Division said the physical evidence does suggest that the fire was intentionally set. The investigation is ongoing.
In the second fire, no serious injuries were reported in connection with a fire at the Big River Grill & Brewing Works at 222 Broad St. Saturday night. The fire started around 10:30 p.m. toward the rear of the structure, which has a common corridor with two or three other businesses.
Battalion Chief Mack Moore said the fire involved some discarded cardboard boxes. The heat from the flames activated a sprinkler head and the fire was extinguished before firefighters arrived. Two people were reportedly treated on the scene by Hamilton County EMS for minor smoke inhalation. Both declined to be transported to the hospital. Damage to the structure was minor.
Lieutenant Anthony Moore with the Fire Investigation Division believes the cause of the fire is accidental, most likely from cigarette butts discarded in the vicinity of the cardboard boxes. Lt. Moore said an assistant fire marshal also cited the Big River Grill for several code violations.
In the third incident, Chattanooga firefighters responded to a commercial fire early Sunday morning at Dacco Detroit of Chattanooga at 2315 Cannon Ave.
A burglar alarm at a business next to that shop activated just before 2 a.m. and a Chattanooga Police patrol officer was dispatched to investigate. Upon arrival the officer observed a fire in the repair shop and called for the fire department.
The Chattanooga Fire Department responded with six fire companies. Battalion Chief Mack Moore said the firefighters had to force their way in through locked doors to get to the fire. Chief Moore said a vehicle was involved in the fire, which complicated matters because the engine block had magnesium components, which reacts violently to water.
While some firefighters used hand-held hoselines to attack the rest of the fire, Chief Moore said other firefighters used dry powder extinguishers to get the magnesium fire out. No injuries were reported.
Lieutenant Anthony Moore with the Fire Investigation Division said the firefighters got the fire out quickly, but there was moderate damage to the structure and its contents. Lt. Moore believes the fire started in the vicinity of a vehicle inside the shop, but what exactly sparked the blaze remains undetermined and under investigation.
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