photo by Buddy Kamin, Hamilton County Hazmat Team
photo by Buddy Kamin, Hamilton County Hazmat Team
photo by Buddy Kamin, Hamilton County Hazmat Team
photo by Buddy Kamin, Hamilton County Hazmat Team
Severe weather with lightning rolled into the Hixson area causing a house fire at 6912 Hampton Woods Dr. early Tuesday morning.
At 6:20 a.m., neighbors called 9-1-1 reporting lightning had struck a gas line, a house and a tree in Hampton Woods subdivision.
Dallas Bay VFD responded and arrived on the scene reporting an exposed gas line with fire, a house fire and a tree fire. Firefighters worked to contain the house and tree fire and to keep the fire from spreading to adjacent homes.
Fire officials on the scene reported two homes with $20,000 damage to each home. The gas company is on the scene and letting the gas burn off to avoid an explosion hazard.
No injuries are reported but Hamilton County EMS is on the scene for any potential injuries to first responders. Mowbray VFD responded to the scene for additional manpower for Dallas Bay.
Chattanooga Gas officials said, "Ensuring the safety of every family we serve is our highest priority.
"Chattanooga Gas was notified at approximately 6:15 a.m. of a fire caused by a lightning strike near the 6900 block of Hampton Wood Circle in Hixson and arrived on the scene shortly after to shut off the natural gas and support first responders.
"We remain onsite working safely and efficiently to repair a service line that was damaged by the fire and restore natural gas service as quickly as possible to the approximate 40 customers impacted.
"We are assisting local authorities with their investigation."