3/2/2009

Chattanooga firefighters responded to a house fire at 5708 Jana Lane at 10:44 Sunday night.  The fire started in a bedroom occupied by two children, ages 1 and 3.  Fortunately, someone smelled the smoke and everyone got out unharmed.  The house was occupied by Will and Ann Marie Fix and their four children.  Another visiting family was also staying there for the night, bringing the total in the house to nine.  Chattanooga firefighters were able to contain the fire damage to the bedroom where it started, but there was smoke damage to the rest of the house.

While the house was still full of smoke and the visibility was poor, Captain Kelly Simmons with Quint 19 fell down a flight of stairs going to the basement.  Captain Simmons sustained a shoulder injury and was transported to a local hospital.

The cause of the fire appears to be accidental in nature.  Captain Lesley Morgan with the Fire Investigation Division said the cause of the fire was most likely caused by an electrical malfunction.  The dollar loss was estimated at $50,000. 

Captain Morgan added that both families were lucky the fire started before they were all asleep, because the one smoke alarm they had in the house did not have a battery.

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