posted December 1, 2005
 Photo by Greg Davick The glow of an apartment fire on Lee Highway shines over the used car lot across from the Cancun restaurant. 25 residents were displaced by the fire Thursday evening, but no one was injured. |
A number of fire units went to Pop's Apartments, and found the structure was engulfed in flames.
The fire broke out around 6:30 p.m.
The site is near the Cancun Restaurant and the BI-LO.
Smoke was billowing throughout that area, including at the Hamilton Place Mall parking lot.
Six fire companies initially responded to the blaze at 7031 Lee Highway.
Rick Bruner told firefighters that he was watching TV around 6:15 p.m. when he started smelling smoke. He stepped outside his apartment and saw smoke and flames coming from the door and windows of the apartment unit next door. A short time later, Mr. Bruner said the resident in that apartment stumbled out the front door, apparently without serious injuries. Mr. Bruner alerted residents in the other apartments, and initial reports indicate that everyone got out safely.
Paramedics with Hamilton County EMS said they treated a couple of victims for minor smoke inhalation. Otherwise, no serious injuries were reported.
The owner of the apartments, Tom Bolton, said there were 15 rooms in the complex, along with a few cabins and mobile homes. Mr. Bolton estimated that 25 residents were displaced by the fire. Some pets reportedly perished in the fire.
As the fire spread through the apartments, the Incident Commander, Captain Bill Melhorn, called for a second alarm response, which brought in an additional six fire companies.
A section of Lee Highway just north of the intersection with Shallowford Road was completely closed to traffic as emergency vehicles converged on the scene. It took the firefighters more than an hour to get the blaze under control.
With the displaced residents wandering around the fire scene, and the temperature outside dropping, a CARTA bus was requested to provide the victims with a temporary place to get warm. Meanwhile, several representatives with the American Red Cross arrived on the scene. The Red Cross was trying to determine how many of the victims needed help, and whether or not they were going to place the victims in motel rooms, or set up a temporary shelter.
In addition to EMS, CARTA and the Red Cross, Chattanooga Police and Chattanooga-Hamilton County Rescue also provided valuable assistance on the scene.
Captain James Whitmire with the Fire Investigation Division said the cause appears to be accidental, most likely from an electrical malfunction in Apartment #9.
The fire quickly spread from that apartment into a shared attic space, enabling the flames to destroy most of the structure before firefighters could get the blaze under control.
The dollar loss was estimated at around $200,000 for the building and contents.
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Photograph by Bruce Garner
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