posted August 6, 2006
) Photo by Bruce Garner |
Officials said the fire was apparently started by a four-year-old-boy playing with a cigarette lighter in a bedroom on the ground floor, causing a mattress to catch fire.
The Chattanooga Fire Department received the alarm at 3:38 p.m. and responded to 3822 Montview Dr. with several fire companies. Captain Clifford Bryant with Engine 15 said he could see smoke from several blocks away as his fire company raced to the scene.
Upon arrival, Captain Bryant said smoke and flames were blowing out the windows from a first-floor apartment unit in the two-story building. The flames had already made their way into the apartment unit above as more firefighters arrived on the scene.
Battalion Chief Mike Knox said the firefighters quickly made an interior attack on the blaze, and did an excellent job of containing the fire to one side of the building. Chief Knox said two units were gutted by the fire, while the two units on the other side had some smoke and water damage.
Three of the four units were occupied at the time. One unit reportedly had six children, but all got out safely. Volunteers with the American Red Cross were called in to provide assistance to the victims. The loss was estimated at around $80,000.
Chattanooga Police, Hamilton County EMS and Chattanooga-Hamilton County Rescue also provided assistance on the scene.
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