02-19-15 Firefighters Respond to Two Fires in Same Neighborhood

After wrapping up a fire at 1705 E. Main Street, the firefighters started driving back to their stations when they spotted a black plume of smoke about a block away. When they went to investigate, they found a duplex on fire at 1808 E. 13th Street. All of the fire companies that were on the E. Main Street fire responded to the scene.

Captain Randy Steele with Engine 5 said they could see people running in and out of the burning duplex. Concerned there might still be people inside, the firefighters made their way inside both units to search for victims.

Battalion Chief Chris Willmore said all of the residents made it out. One resident appeared to have some burns to his hands, but he refused to be transported to a hospital. Meantime, other firefighters worked to get the blaze under control. Captain Dean Rogers said Firefighter Engineer Jake Gann led firefighters with hand-held hoselines to make an aggressive attack in the B-side of the duplex; the side that was on fire. It took the firefighters 20 to 30 minutes to get the blaze under control. An estimate on the dollar loss was not available.

Chief Willmore said the fire displaced a mother and her two children on one side of the duplex, and three people on the other side, though that has not been confirmed. Volunteers with the American Red Cross of Southeast Tennessee have been called to the scene to assist the victims. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Chattanooga police and Hamilton County EMS also provided assistance on the scene.