Chattanooga firefighters worked unrelentingly for hours to save a large home on Big Ridge Thursday dealing with steep terrain and a complex layout. Crews kept the fire at bay for most of the morning, but deteriorating, unsafe conditions forced them to abandon their positions.
Multiple companies responded at 4:30 a.m. to the 1700 block of Patriot Lane in the Colonial Shores subdivision following reports that a fire in the backyard of a residence was moving toward the house.
911 dispatchers relayed that the flames were quickly spreading to the decks. The fire got under the multi-tiered decks and both Blue and Red Shift crews fought tirelessly to prevent it from spreading into the structure.
Access was a challenge due to the sloped backyard, making it very difficult to get to the seat of the fire. A second alarm was called to bring additional personnel to the scene to assist with firefighting operations and an extended response got underway due to the complexity of the layout of the house and multi-level backyard decks. The wood joist under the concrete decking was burning which compromised the structural integrity of the porches so command made the call to pull firefighters out of the interior and move crews away from the unstable levels of decking.
Within moments of crews relocating a safe distance away, there was a large collapse of the burning exterior areas. Within minutes, flames were through the roof of the mansion.
Firefighters successfully protected nearby neighbors’ homes from catching fire, but several adjacent houses sustained substantial damage from the radiant heat. A lengthy overhaul process is underway to ensure that remaining pockets of fire are fully extinguished.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. There were no injuries. The homeowner and his pets are safe. He was able to remove some belongings from his residence with the help of firefighters before it became too dangerous.
Officials said, "We appreciate the support of all of our mutual aid partners today, including CPD, Hamilton County EMS, Hamilton County 911’s Incident Dispatch Unit, Dallas Bay Rehab Unit, and Highway 58 Rehab Unit. Mutual aid agencies provided assistance on the scene and at our fire halls. Thanks to residents in Colonial Shores for their kindness and hospitality as well."