posted June 6, 2002
Fire investigators are still trying to determine what started a fire Thursday on the ninth floor of the Chattanooga Bank Building at 737 Market St.
Captain Craig Haney said he has already ruled out electrical problems, but that still leaves a number of possible causes for the fire. The investigation will continue.
The three Chattanooga firefighters who were transported to the hospital yesterday have been identified as follows:
Captain Gary Anderson
Lieutenant Cullen Cavin Jr.
Firefighter Frank Rozzell Jr.
All three were treated for heat exhaustion and released Thursday night at Erlanger.
The fire broke out about 2 p.m. Thursday.
A host of fire and rescue personnel went to the scene at Market and 8th Streets. The entire building was evacuated.
Officials said there was extensive smoke from about the fourth floor to the top of the downtown landmark.
Several windows were knocked out by firefighters in fighting the blaze on the ninth floor. The building is 10 stories high with a penthouse 11th floor.
A number of downtown streets were blocked off by emergency personnel.
Bruce Garner of the fire department said Captain David Walker and Lieutenant Lesley Cole just happened to be in the building next door conducting a fire inspection when someone pointed to smoke coming from a window on the ninth floor of the Chattanooga Bank Building at 737 Market St. Capt. Walker and Lt. Cole went inside the building to check it out. When they got to the 5th floor, they decided not to go up any higher because it was clear the building was filling up with smoke.
As they notified 9-1-1 Communications of the possible fire, they went door-to-door to notify the office workers that they needed to evacuate. Others helped in the notification effort and everyone in the building escaped unharmed.
Not long after the first engine companies arrived on the scene, Battalion Chief Robert Dozier called for a second alarm response, which brought in Engines 1, 2, 5, 12, 14, 17, 20, Squad 1, and Ladders 1, 2, 3 and 5.
As smoke continued to fill the building, Chattanooga firefighters searched the building to ensure everyone got out, and entered the 9th floor to began their search for the fire. To improve visibility and reduce the heat, the firefighters broke out some windows on all sides of the building. The firefighters eventually found the fire on the 9th floor, in two rooms being used to store cardboard boxes full of paper. Once the fire was found, it didn’t take long for them to extinguish the fire.
The heat was intense and exhausting for the firefighters. As a precaution, Hamilton County EMS transported three firefighters to Erlanger when they exhibited signs of exhaustion.
Though the fire damage was contained to two rooms on the 9th floor, Chief Dozier said several floors in the building sustained smoke and water damage. The 11-story building was constructed in 1926 and reportedly has 60 tenants.
Fire Chief Jim Coppinger praised the firefighters for their efforts. “They were very aggressive and well coordinated in their firefighting tactics,” said Chief Coppinger. “That’s why the fire damage was limited to two rooms. I’m not discounting the damages that did occur, but it could have been much worse. They did a great job under tough conditions.”
The mopping up operation was expected to take several hours, as firefighters cleared out piles of paper and hundreds of boxes to ensure the fire was completely out, and to facilitate work for the fire investigators. The 20 fire cadets currently enrolled in the fire academy were called to the scene to assist in the mop-up operation.
Market Street from 7th to 8th Streets will remain closed until the cleanup operation is completed.
Chattanooga Police, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Rescue and Hamilton County Emergency Services provided assistance on the scene.
The building is owned by Robert and Darlene Brown, and they had their living quarters near the top of the historic structure.
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